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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
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MEMOIRS 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  REVOLUTION, 


SO  FAR   AS   IT   RELATED   TO   THE 

STATES  OF  NORTH  AND  SOUTH-CARO- 
LINA, AND  GEORGIA. 

COMPILED  FROM  THE  MOST  AUTHENTIC  MATERIALS,  THE 
AUTHOR'S  PERSONAL  KNOWLEDGE  OF  THE  VARIOUS  • 
EVENTS,   AND    INCLUDING    AN  EPISTOLARY 
CORRESPONDENCE  ON  PUBLIC  AFFAIRS, 
WITH  CIVIL  AND  MILITARY    OF- 
FICERS, AT  THAT  PERIOD. 


BT  WILLIAM  MOULTRIE, 

LATE     GOVERNOR    OF    THE    STATE     OF     SOUTH-CARO- 
LINA, AND   MAJOR-GENERAL    IN   THE  ARMY 
OF  THE    UNITED    STATES    DURING 
THE    AMERICAN     WAR. 


VOL.  II. 
NEW-YORK: 

PRINTED     BY    DAVID   LONGWORTH, 

FOR   THE   AUTHOR. 

1802. 

[Cepj -right  Suure,,'.] 


MEMOIRS 

v 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 


GENERAL  Lincoln  attacking  the  British  lines  at 
Stono-ferry,  and  I  attacking  them  from  James'-Is- 
land  with  the  gallics,  made  their  situation  on  John's- 
Island,  rather  unpleasant ;  and,  no  doubt,  they  ex- 
pected we  should  make  some  other  movements  to- 
wards them  j  they  therefore  thought  it  best  to  quit 
that  place,  and  get  to  a  place  were  they  could  be 
supported  by  their  shipping  :  accordingly  they  went 
from  Island  to  Island,  until  they  got  to  Port-royal, 
where  they  established  a  strong  post  at  Beaufort ; 
we  never  could  get  a  sufficient  number  of  boats  to 
follow  them,  as  they  had  possession  of  that  part  of 
the  country  where  most  of  the  boats  belonged. 

To   GoV.   RUTLEDGE. 

*  '  JAMES'-ISLAND,  June  25th,   J779. 
«  DEAR  SIR, 

'  BY  a  letter  I  received  this  morning  from  Gen. 
1  Lincoln,  I  am  informed  that  the  enemy  are  moving, 
'  and  have  actually  quitted  Stono-ferry  ;  this  is  cori- 
<  firmed  by  private  intelligence  of  my  own  j  so  that 

461811 


'  there  is  not  left  the  least  room  for  doubt :  a  party 
;it  down  the  river  to  perceive  something  of 
'  their  motions,  if  possible  ;  and  another  party  is 
1  this  moment  embarking,  with  a  view  of  reconnoi- 
<  tering  that  part  of  the  Island  which  is  nearest  us. 
'  Permit  me,  sir,  to  request  an  additional  number  of 
'  boats  and  flats  ;  they  may  be  indispensibly  ne- 
'  cessary. 

'  I  am,  Stc. 

'  WM.  MOULT  HIE.' 


FROM  Gov.  RUTLEDGE. 

*CHARLESTOWN,  June  26th,  1779. 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

«  NOTWITHSTANDING  repeated  orders  to  the 
'  commissioners  of  the  navy  to  have  flats  and  other 
'  boats  collected  and  sent  to  you,  I  apprehend  there 
'  is,  as  usual,  in  all  our  operations,  which  com- 

*  monly  renders  them  of  less  consequence  than  they 

*  otherwise  would  be,  much  delay  ;    and  Major  Har- 

*  les>ton  having  offered  his  service  to  go  about  and 

*  collect  all  that  may  be  necessary,  and  proceed  with 
«  them  to  your  camp  ;  I  have   requested  him  to  do 

*  so.. ..I  hope  he  will  obtain  a  sufficient   number  of 

*  boats  to  transport  Paulaski's  horse,  also  Gen.  Lin. 
4  coin's  troops  of  infantry  ;  as   well  as  yourself ;  for 
4  if  a  blow  of  any   importance  is  to  be  struck,   (your 

*  men  being  too  few)  it  seems  requisite  that  you  and 


*  they  should  co-operate  with  each  other  :  you  will 

*  of  course,  apprize  them  of  the  number  of  boats  you 

*  have,    and  concert  with  them  the  most  effectual 
'  plan  for  annoying  the  enemy.     I  understand  they 

*  have  not  vessels  enough  to  carry  off  all  their  own. 

*  troops  at  once  ;  (much  less  the  negroes,  and  plun- 

*  der  they  have  taken)  so  that  some  will  probably 

*  wait  for  the  return  of  the  vessels. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

{  J.  RUTLEDCK. 

4  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  JAMES'-ISLAND,  June  26th,  1779. 
'DEAR  SIR, 

'  FROM  all  the  information  I  have  been  able  to 

*  collect,  and  particularly  from  a  deserter  who  came 
«  in  this  morning,  and  left  the  enemy  about  5  o'clock 

*  yesterday  afternoon    it  seems    certain  that    they 

*  are  all  gone  on  board  of  their  shipping  :    I  had  no 
'  opportunity  of  giving  them  a  blow  on  their  retreat, 
1  it  was  so   suddes  and  so  rapid  :  I  had  ordered  a 
'  party,  and  a  field-piece  already  in  the  boat,  when. 
4 1  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Hall,  informing  me 
(  that  the  enemy  were  busily  employed  in  throwing 

*  up  some  intrenchments  at  Mr.  William  Gibbs',  and 

*  that  a  great  body  of  them  were  there  :  this  deter- 

*  mined  me  to  countermand  my  order ;   the  next 

VOL.  n.  11 


<  account  I  had  of  them,  was  at  night,    when  they 

*  were   at  Simons'-Island,     and  embarking  ;  I   then 
thought  it  needless  to  follow  them,  as  it  would  be 

4  carrying  my  troops  at  too  great  a  distance  from 
'  town  :*  I  have  sent  the  gallies  to  endeavor  to  take 
'  some  of  their  transports,  or  destroy  them :  Capt. 

*  Anthony   and   Milligan  are   going  to  observe   the 
'  motions  of  the   enemy,  they    will  call  on  you  for 

*  any  orders  you  may  have. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIK. 

'  P.  S.     Since  writing  the  above,   two  sergeants, 
'  deserters,  are  come  in,  they   say   the  enemy  have 

*  not  vessels  sufficient  to  qarry  them  all  off  at  once  ; 
1  the   71st  and  light-infantry  are  now  halted   at  the 

*  meeting  house ;  I  have  too  few  to  attack  them :  I 
'  shall  therefore   send   some  flats  and  boats  to  the 
1  ferry,  to  facilitate  your  crossing  :  I  will  join  you 
«  if  you  think  necessary.' 

ON  the  27th  June,  I  ordered  all  my  boats  from 
>oo-cut  to  Glen's-landing  ;  and  on  the  28th  em- 
barked all  my  troops  and  landed  them  in  Charles- 
town  about  noon.  About  the  30th  instant,  I  was  or- 
dered out,  to  take  the  command  of  the  army  at  Sto- 
no  ;  Gen.  Lincoln  wishing  to  come  to  Charlestown. 

•  We  always  kept  in  view  ;  that  the  enemy  might  come 
round  by  water,  and  attack  the  town. 


To    GOV.  RUTLEDGE. 

«  STONO,  July  3d,  1779. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

*  FROM   Gen.   Williamson's  information,  I  find 

<  it  is  impossible  to  keep  his  men  in  the  field  any 
'  longer  ;  and  the  expectation  of  a  relief  for  them,  is 

<  intirely  vanished  ;  as  I  saw  a  letter  from  Col.  Lyle> 
'  and  others,  in  that  part  of  the  country,  to  William- 
t  son,  informing  him  he   could  not  get  the  men  to 

*  march  down  this  way  ;  and  as  an  excuse  they  have 
i  played  the  old  stale  game  of  Cameron's  being  in 

*  the  Cherokees,  with  a  number  of  white  men  and 
'  Indians,  ready  to  fall  on  their  part  of  the  country  ; 

*  and  also  1,000  tories  coming  from  North-Carolina, 
'  &c.     In  short,  I  cannot  tell  what  to  advise,  unless 

*  we  could  discharge  all  our  back  country  militia, 

<  and  begin  a  new  plan  with  them,  such  as  the  le« 

*  gislature  may  adopt ;  I  think  it  would  be  best :  I 

*  have  prevailed  upon  Williamson's  men  to  stay  un- 
« til  I  hear  from  you  ;  when  I  did  not  doubt  but  that 

*  they  would  be  allowed  to  return  home,  especially 

*  as  most  of  these  men  are  the  best  of  them,  and  have 

<  been  in  the  field  five  months....!  shall  be  glad  to 

*  have  your  answer  soon. 

v  I  am,  &c. 

«  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 


To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  STONO,  SOMMER'S,  July  3d,  1779. 
4  DEAR  SIR, 

•  I   HAVE  nothing   extraordinary   to  write   you 

*  from  hence  :  by  a  letter  from  Colonel  Horry,  which 

<  is  dated  Port-royal-ferry,    July  1st,    I  am  informed 

<  that  the  enemy's  army  are  not  yet  got  to  Beaufort, 

*  that  only  a  party  of  marines,  were  on  that  island, 

*  and  stationed  opposite   his  post,   but  upon   his  ap- 

*  pearance  they  were  called  in,  and  went  on  board  the 

*  Vigilant  and  two  transports  which  lay  there,   that 

*  they  had  no  more  than  200  hundred  men  altogether 
1  at  that  place,   including  the  Vigilant's  crew.     By 
1  three  deserters  from  the  enemy's  gallies  yesterday, 
f  I  am  informed  that  they  are  still  on  Edisto-Island, 

<  but  they  agree   that  their  intention  is   to  go  for 
'  Beaufort.     I  think  it  not  adviseable  to  move  from 

*  hence,    while  they  remain  where  they  are.     The 

*  North-Carolinians  begin  to  move  to  day,  their  sick 
'  and  weak,  202,  the  remainder  will  go  next  Sunday 

*  week.     I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  detain  our  mi- 

*  litia  any  longer.     Williamson   tells  me  his  men 

*  seem  determined  to  go  in  a  few  days ;  no  argument 

*  can  prevail  on  them  to  stay.     I  herewith  send  you 
4  a  letter    from    Governor  Houston,    with    inclosed 

*  letters  and  papers  from  Colonel  Dooley,   I  am  un- 

<  acquainted  with  any  plan  you  have  directed,  there- 


<  fore  could  say  nothing  to  him.     I  shall  be  glad  of 
'  your  instructions. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIB.' 


FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

4  HEAD-QUARTERS,  CHARLES-TOWN, 

<  July  4th,  1779. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

'  I  RECEIVED  your's  of  yesterday,  this  morning. 
(  I  wish  you  would   immediately  send  to  Mr.  Gol- 

*  phins  500  pounds  of  powder,   lead,  flints,   and  100 

*  stand  of  arms,  under  the   escort  of  the  Georgia 

*  Brigade,    which  will  remain   in  that  part  of  the 

*  country,  till  further  orders.     After  we  came  to  the 
'  13  Mile-house,    (Stono)  I  was  informed  that   the 
'  enemy  had  left  the  state  of  Georgia  ;   upon  that  I 

*  advised  the  inhabitants  thereof,  to  collect  and  at- 

*  tempt  to  gain  as  much  of  it  as  possible.     On  this 
1  recommendation  they  have  assembled  4  or  500  men, 

*  and  wish   to  be  aided  in   the  attempt,   but  as  our 
4  little  army  will   soon  be   reduced ;   I  have  written 
'  to  Colonel  Dooley  that  he  must  at  present  content 
'  himself  with  covering  the  upper  part  of  the  country, 

*  for  we  cannot  reinforce  him,  but  with  the  few  Geor- 
'  gia  troops,  whose  times  are  near  out  and  who  it  is 

*  said,  can  be  engaged  provided  they  can  return.     I 

*  think  you  judge  right  in  keeping  your  ground  until 


10 

«  the  enemy  leave  Edisto-Island,  or  at  least  till  their 
<  main  body  do  it. 

1  I  am,  See. 

*  B.  LINCOLN. 
«  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  STONO,  July  5th,  1779. 
c  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  HAVB  just  received  information  from  different 
1  quarters,  that  the  enemy  are  now  upon  Port-royal- 

*  Island.     In  consequence,   I  have  ordered  Colonel 
(  Pinckney's  and  the  Georgia  brigade,  to  be  ready 

*  to  march  to-morrow  morning  early,  and  shall  order 

*  General  Sumner's  to  follow  the  next  day ;   I  shall 

*  march  them  in  divisions,   because  it  would  be   in- 
'  convenient  to  have  them  all  together,   when  they 

*  came  to  cross  the   rivers.     I   propose  forming  my 

*  camp  near  Colonel  Garden's,  and  keep  my  picquets 
1  on  the  river  side;    I   shall  order  two  field-pieces 

*  with  each  division,  the  remainder  of  the  artillery 

*  I  think  may  be  as  well  sent  to  town  ;   but  for  this 
1  I  shall  wait  your  orders.     I  shall  remain  here  a  day 
'  or  two  longer,  to  know  your  pleasure  relative  to  the 
4  Virginians  and  North-Carolinians  whose   times  are 
4  near  expiring.     Mr.  Houston  was  with  me  yester- 

*  day,  and  informed  me  that  you  promised  some  arms 
'  and  ammunition  to  Colonel  Dooley,  for  the  state  of 


11 

<  Georgia.    I  shall  be  glad  to  know  how  many,  and 

*  what  quantity  I  shall    send  them.     Williamson's 

*  men  are  anxious,  and  seem  determined  to  get  home. 

*  I  wrote  the  governor  concerning  them.     I  shall  be 

*  glad  to  have  his  answer. 

*  I  am,  Sec. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<  HEAD-QUARTERS,  July  5th,  1779. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

'  YOUR  favor  of  yesterday's  date  I  received  last 

*  evening:  I  am  sorry  that  Colonel  Pichin's  men  have 

<  left  him,  and  that  General  Williamson's  are  like  to 

*  follow  their  example.     The  governor  informs  me 

*  that  the  council  cannot  be  persuaded,  that  the  safety 

*  of  the  state   will  not    admit   of '  their   being    clis- 
1  charged.     The  governor  and  council  have  ordered 
«  a  draught  of  one  third  of  the  militia,  to  march  im- 
f  mediately  to  camp;  on  their  arrival  they  will  con- 
1  sent  that  those  now  therein  shall  be  discharged. 
'  I  suppose  the  consequences  will  be,  that  the  militia 
'  will  discharge  themselves.     You  will  endeavor  to 

<  keep  pace  with  the  enemy  ;    if  they  make  a  partial 

*  movement,  and  you  cannot  find  means  to  attack 

*  them,  I  think  you  had  better  reinforce  Col.  Horry, 

*  I  think,  with  you,    that  it  would  be  hardly  worth 

*  while  to  march  the  North-Carolina  troops  to  Port- 


12 

1  royal-ferry,  for  their  time   of  service   will  be  out 

*  soon  after  their  arrival,  and  it  would  lengthen  their 

*  march,  which  if  possible,  should  be  avoided   this 
'  hot  weather  :  I  think,  as  your  force  decreases,  you 
1  had  better  send  some  of  your  artillery  to  town. 

'  I  am,  Sec. 

*  B.  LINCOLN. 
'  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  COL.  DANIEL  HORRY. 

'  PORT-ROYAL-FERRY,  July  6th,   1779. 
<  DEAR  SIR, 

1  CAPT.  Dogharty  (who  has  lately  been  with  us 
'  for  a  day  or  two)  went  from  hence  to  Beaufort,  in 

*  cog.  and  was  for  a  few  hours  at  a  friend's  house  ; 

*  who  informed  him  that  Gen.  Provost  was  expected 
'  from  Edisto  every  hour,  with  the  remainder  of  his 
'  army  :  that   about  2,000,  including  sick,  wounded, 
1  convalescents,  8cc.    were   already  at   Beaufort,  but 
«  kept  on  board  ship  :     that   Commodore   Christie 

*  will  not  permit  any  boat  on  shore  after  retreat 
4  beating  ;    and  that  they  had  already  wooded  and 
'  watered  ;    this  appears  to  us  as  if  they  meant  a 
f  speedy  embarkation. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

<  DANIEL  HORRY. 
'Gen.  MOOCTIIIE.' 


13 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  STOKO,  July  5th,   1779* 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

«  I  INFORMED  you   some  time  ago,  that  I  had 
«  directed  Col.  Drayton  to  have  a  number  of  bags 

*  (200)  made  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  corn-meal 
'  from  Augusta,  to  any  place  where  it  may  be  want- 

*  ed :   As  we  are  now  bringing   down  meal,  those 
'  bags  would  be  of  infinite  service   to  us,  and  a  great 

*  saving  to  the  public,  by  more  expeditiously  loading 

*  the  waggons,  and  by  preventing  great  waste  of  the 

*  meal,  which   often  happens  from  bad   casks,  and 
1  especially  as   each  waggon  may  carry  five  bushels 
'  more,  which  is  the  difference  between  the  casks 
'  and  the  bags  :  I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  you ,  to 
c  speak  to  Drayton  about  them :    he  informed  me 
1  they  were  made  some  time  ago,  and   sent  up  ;  but 
'  God  knows  where  ;  he  could  not  tell  where  they 
1  were  sent  to,  nor  by  whom  :  if  this  is  to  be  the 
<  case  with  other  articles,  our  calls  for  money  will 
4  be  endless.  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

{  CHARLESTOWN,  July  6th,  1779. 
f  DEAR.  SIR, 

'  I  HAVE  been  honored  with  your  two  favors  of 
c  yesterday.    I  am  fully  with  you  in  opinion,  that 
VOL.  ii.  c 


u 

<  part  of  the  artillery  ought  to  be  sent  on  to  town. 
1  I  yesterday  expressed  my  sentiments  with  regard 
'  to  the  North  Carolina  militia.     I  think  you  majr 

<  ivant  the  Virginians  with  you,    if  you  think  you 
4  should  not,  you  will  also  leave  them  behind.     I  have 
'  ?poken   to  the  governor  often,    perhaps   too  often, 

<  about  the  Williamson  militia;    I  hope  he  will  give 
'  you  an  answer.     Colonel  Drayton  will  explain   to 

*  you  the  matter  of  the  bags. 
> 
'  I  am,  Etc. 

'  B.  LINCOLN.' 
c  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  THE  GOVERNOR. 

« Julyrth,  1779. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

<  I  AM  favored  with  your's  of  the  3d.  inst.  which, 

<  together  with  General  Williamson's  of  the  same 

<  date,  I  laid  before  the  council.    I  have  wrote  fully 
'  on   the  matter  to  General  Williamson,  who  will 
1  communicate  the  contents  to  you,  &c. 

<  I  am,  &c. 

*  J.  RUTLEDGE. 

*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


II 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  STONO,  July  7th,  1779. 
<  DEAR  SIR, 

<  I  RECIEVED  your  favor,  date  the  5th  inst. 
1  upon  General  Williamson's  frequent  representation 
'  to  me,  that  he  could  not  keep  his  men  a  day 
'  longer  in  camp,  and  upon  telling  me  he  thought  it 
'  would  be  best  for  the  service  to  discharge  them, 
'  and  suffer  them  to  go  home  and  send  others  down 

*  in  their  places,  as  the  relief  had  absolutely  refused 
'  to  come ;  I  accordingly  issued  an  order  for  their  re- 
'  turning  home  this  day:      I  know  they  would  go 
'  without  my  leave,    had  I  not  done  it;    (their  num- 
'  bers  726.)  I  have   sent  four  pieces   of   artillery  to 

*  town,    by  Major  Grimkie,    we   shall  have  two  left, 
'  which  will  be  quite   sufficient  for  our  little  army. 
'  I  shall  also  order  the  arms*  down,  about  300  stand. 
'  I   wrote  you  that  I  would  order  Sumner'a  brigade 
'  to  Port-royal-ferry,    since  which,    I  think  they  will 
'  be  as  useful  here  at  present,    as  marching  them  to 
1  that  place,  especially  as  I  am  informed  by  two  de- 

*  serters  who  came  in  last  night,    and  who  left  the 

*  enemy  two  days  ago,  that  they  are  on  St.  Helena- 


*  We  were  always  obliged  to  keep  a  number  of  arms  in 
camp,  as  we  were  obliged  frequently  to  arm  the  reliefs  from  the 
militia. 


16 

1  Island,*  and  their  shipping  laying  in  the  sound- 
'  I  will  endeavor  to  keep  pace  with  the  enemy  ;  I 
(  have  sent  Colonel  Pinckney,  with  about  250  men,  to 
(  reinforce  that  post  at  Port-royal-ferry,  and  to  take 

*  command  there.     General  Sumner  has  applied  to 
4  me  for  leave  to  go  home,    owing  to  his  ill  state  of 

*  health ;  he  tells  me  he  thinks  he  can  be  of  more 

*  service,    and  that  if  he  was  in  North-Carolina,    he 
f  might  recover,  and  be  on  the  spot  to  forward  on 
'  the  troops  to  this  place,    as  fast  as  possible,    which 

*  he  has  promised   me  to  do  :    I   have   accordingly 

*  given  him  leave  to  return  home. 

*  ON  Gen.  Williamson's  men  being  permitted  to  go 
'  home,  to  prevent  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  their 

*  leaving  camp  without  orders,    I  have  requested  the 
'  general  (as  I  know  his  influence  over  these  people) 
'  to  return  to  that  part  of  the  country,  and  to  send 

*  out  the  reliefs  as  soon  as  possible,   which  he  has 
'  promised  to  do.     I  will  be  much  obliged  to  you,  to 

*  request  of  the  governor  to  have  some   large  flats 
'  stationed  atPonpon,  Ashepoo,  and  Combahee  rivers, 

*  to  facilitate  the  marching  of  troops  through  those 

*  parts  of  the  country  ;  it  seems  to  be  absolutely 


*  They  could  soon  sail  round  to  Charlestown,  which  was 
rny  reason  for  remaining  at  Stono ;  from  whence  I  could  readUy 
march  down  to  town. 


17 

*•  necessary)  as  they  are  now  obliged  to  go  many 
1  miles  round.  I  am,  &c. 

1  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  DEAR  SIR,  STONO,  July  7th,  1779. 

«  I  WROTE  you  this  morning  by  Major  Grimkie, 

*  since  which  I  have  received  intelligence  by  letter, 
1  from  Col.  Mayson  at  Port-royal-ferry  ;    that  Capt. 

*  Dogharty  was  on  the  Island  the  3d  instant,  and  re- 
1  ports,  from  good  authority,  that  Provost  means  to 
'  summer  it  there,  and  to  take  post  on  the  Main 

'  with  1 ,000  men,  at  all  hazards  :  they  have  it  amongst 
f  them,  that  your  army  is  dispersed  :  I  shall  order 
1  Sumner's  brigade  off  to  morrow.  I  have  ordered 

*  the  several  bodies  of  militia  that  are  raised  south. 

*  wardly,  to  join  ours  at  Port-royal-ferry.     I  wish  I 

*  could  have  about  20  light  batteaus  fixed  upon  wag- 

*  gon  carriages  always  in  camp ;  as  we   could  some 
4  time  surprise  some  of  their  posts  on  the  Island. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  COL.  HORRY. 
4  PORT-ROYAL-FERRY,  July  8th,  1779. 

*  DEAR  G-ENEBAL, 

'  You  will  herewith  receive  John  Livingston,  a. 
1  prisoner,   which  our  party  made  yesterday,  at  the 


18 

*  plantation  of  Dr.  Fraser,  on  Port-royal-Island ;  he 
'  is  a  son  to  the  widow  Odengell,  and  has  been  with 

*  the  enemy  ever  since  they  took  possession  of  the 

*  town,  and  therefore  may  be  a  proper  person  for  you 

*  to  obtain  intelligence  from;   he  says  he  is  only  15 
'  years  of  age,    and   stayed  with  his  mother :    the 
'  enemy  from  their  talk,  mean  to  remain  on  the  Is- 
'  land  and  to  take  post  with  a  party  of  2,000  men  on 
4  this  side  the  river :  that  they  intend  next  high  wa- 
«  ter  to  come  up  here  with  one  or  two  gallics,  to  at- 

*  tempt  to  prevent  us  from  going  on  with  erecting 

*  our  little  redoubt. 

'  I  am,  Sec. 

'  D.  HORKY. 
*  Gen.  MOULTKIE.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

'  CHARLESTOWH,  July  8th,  1779. 
4  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  HAVE  been  honored  with  your  two  favors  of 
'  yesterday's  date. 
'  THE  governor  and  council  have  ordered  a  draught 

*  of  one  third  of  the  militia  to  serve  three  months  af- 
1  ter  they  join  camp :  I  hope  this  order  will  be  put 
«  into  execution,  and  that  in  future,  your  militia  will 

*  be  relieved  regularly,  for  unless  they  are,   it  is  not 
'  probable  they  will  render  us  much  service  in  camp  ; 
«  or  remain  there  with  any  satisfaction  to  themselves. 


19 

« I  do  not  think  that  the  enemy  mean  to  remain  OH 
<  Port-royal-Island,  much  less  attempt  to  take  post 
f  on  the  Main  ;  however,  I  think  you  perfectly  right, 

*  in  preparing  for  the  worst.     There  is  but  little 

*  money   in   the  military  chest  ;  I  wish  you  would 
1  take  that,  and  let  Mr.  Rapely*  return  to  town  ;  he 
1  will  join  you  again,    when  the  auditors  return  to 
4  camp  :  I  will  replenish  the  chest. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

1  B.  LINCOLN. 
4  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

1  STONO,  July  8th,   1779. 
«  DEAR  SIR, 

*  UPON  my  moving  the  troops  to  Port-royal-ferr 

*  ry,  and  my  ordering  the  commissary  and  quarter- 
{  master's  stores  to  follow:  I  find  we  have  not  a  sin- 

*  gle  waggon  for  that  purpose  ;    I  therefore  request 
{  that  you  will  order  the  quarter-master  to  send  us 

*  ten  waggons  ;   I  shall  also  send  to  Port-royal-ferry 
«  for  some  regimental  waggons  ;    I  shall  want  some 
1  to  remove  the  flying  hospital  immediately :    our 
{  wounded  officers  and  men  cannot  be   removed  at 
1  present,  especially  those  with  fractured  limbs.     I 


Mr.  Rapely  was  pay-master. 


20 

*  have  wrote  Doctor  Oliphant*    on  the    subject.     I 
'  have   3   waggons  load  of  arms  (317   stands)  they 
'  were  given  in  by  Gen.   Butler,t  who,  I  suppose, 
«  will  deliver  as  many  more  to-morrow.  Gen  William- 

<  son  has  sent  his  spare  arms  up  the  country.     Col. 

*  Thaxton's  brigade^  marched  off  this  morning.     I 
1  cannot  leave  this  place,  until  I  see  the  stores  in  a 
'  way  of  moving  on. 

<  I  am,  Sec. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

'  STONO,  July  10th,  1779. 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

'  I  RECEIVED  your  favor,    dated  the  8th  inst.  in 
c  which  you  inform  me  that  the  governor  and  coun- 

<  cil  had  ordered  a  draught  of  one  third  of  the  militia ; 

*  I  hope  they  will  have  something  to  bind  them  to 
'  their  duty  stronger  than  any  thing  we  have  had  yet. 
'  At  present  I  have  no  militia  with  me,  but  about  25 
1  of  Colonel  Hammond's ;   all  Goodwin's  went  off  ex- 

*  cept  the  major,  3  lieutenants,  and  5  privates,  whom 


*  Director-general  of  the  hospital. 

t  Of  North-Carolina.  This  shows  that  when  we  hsd  re- 
inforcements from  N.  C.  we  were  obliged  to  furnish  them  with 
arms,  and  when  their  times  were  out,  they  delivered  them  up 
ag?in. 

£  North-Carolina. 


21 

'  I  discharged,  and  sent  the  officers  home  to  collect 
4  more  men.    I  should  be  glad  to  have  some  more 

*  bags  for  conveying  corn-meal  j  as  Col.  Hammond 

*  informs  there  is  a  great  deal  ground  up,  and  a  large 

*  quantity  of  corn,   which  we  may  still  have  from 

*  Beach-Island.     This  is  like  to  be  our  principal  de- 

<  pendance  this  winter,  as  I  am   informed  our  wheat 

*  in  the  back  country  is  totally  lost.     I  received  the 

*  military  chest  from  Mr.  Rapely,  containing  about 
«  36,000  dollars ;    he  is  to   return  to  day.     I  have 

*  just  now  received  a  letter  from  Col.  Horry,  inform- 

*  ing  me  that  the  enemy  have  landed  at  Beaufort, 

<  and  mean  to  maintain  the  Island :  they  still  talk  of 
'  taking  post  on  the  Main  :  this  last  I  give  but  little 
'  credit  to :  a  party  of  our  troops  went  on  the  Island, 

*  and  brought  off  a  young  man,  a  prisoner,  whom  I 

*  have  sent  to  town  ;  he  says  they  have  landed  their 

*  sick  and  wounded,  and  placed  them  in  the  court- 
i  house  and  goal,  which  they  have  converted  into 
4  hospitals :  this  looks  as  if  they  intended  staying 

*  there.      Is  it  not  scandalous  to  America,  that  a 

*  handful  of  men,  with  two  small  men-of-war,  should 

*  ride  triumphant,  and  distress  these  southern  states  - 
1  when  perhaps  our  continental  vessels  are  cruizing 
(  for  the  emolument  of  their  commanders.. ..Should 

4  not  this  be  represented  to  Congress  ?  At  all  events 
VOL.  zi.  D 


22 

i  I  shall  set  off  on  Monday  for  camp  at  Port-royal. 

*  ferry.     I  fear  we  are  beginning  a  new  campaign. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

•    WILLIAM  MOULTRIK.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<  CHARLESTOWN,  July  10th,  1779. 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  HAVE  been  honored  with  your  favor  of  yes- 

*  terday's  date :   Major  Pinckney  has  returned  from 
'  Port-royal-river,    where    he  has  been  to  negociate 

*  an  exchange  of  prisoners :  the  enemy  make  a  con- 

*  dition,  previous  to  a  general  exchange  taking  place  : 

*  that  the  officers  who  have  absconded,  and  broken 
'  their  paroles,  and  those  taken,  must  be  returned  be- 
'  fore  this  business  can  be  accomplished. 

'  I  AM    sorry  that  any   officer  who  has   the   ho- 

*  nor  to  hold  a  commission,  should  conduct  himself 

*  in  a  manner,  so  unjustifiable,  and  which  in  its  con- 

*  sequences  will  do  so  much  prejudice  to  their  broth- 
'  er  officers  :  those  who  were  taken,  I  do  not  view 

*  in  an  unfavorable  light,   but  I  think  from  the  tenor 
'  of  their  paroles  they  cannot  act  until  exchanged. 

<  P.  S.    For  particulars  you  must  inquire  of  Major 
<  Pinckney. 

«  I  am,  &c. 

'B.  LINCOLN. 
'  Gen.  MOULTRII.' 


23 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  CHARLESTOWN,  July  llth,  1779. 
(  DEAR  SIR, 

*  YOUR  favor  of  yesterday's  date  I  received  this 

*  morning.     I  hope  that  your  conjectures,  that  we 

*  are  now  commencing  a  new  campaign,  are  without 

*  foundation,  for  we  are  by  no  means  prepared  for 

*  such  an  event.     We  have  at  present  neither  men, 
'  stores  or  money ;   indeed  the  latter  is  so  depreci- 

*  ated,    that  I  apprehend  that  unless  something  is 
«  done  to  increase  its  value,  it  will  not  long  answer 
'  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  war ;  if  that  fails  us, 

*  our  only  resource  is  the  VIRTUE  of  the  people  ;  how 

*  far  that  will  avail  us  at  this  day,  I  leave  you  to 
« judge. 

<  I  am,  Sec. 
*  Gen.  MOVLTRIE.  B.  LINCOLN. 

A  GREAT  number  of  the  preceding  letters  will 
show  what  little  dependance  we  could  put  upon  the 
virtue  of  the  people. 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<DEAR  SIR,  CHARLESTOWN,  13th  July,  1779. 

{  SERGEANT  Jasper  with  a  party  of  men  wait  upon 

'  you,  desirous  of  something  being  given  them  to  do. 

'  Your  being  immediately  on  the   spot,  will  better 

enable  you  to  judge  of  the  most  advantageous  man- 


34 

4  ner  in  which  they  may  be  disposed  of.    It  is  theirs 
and  my  wish  that  they  may  be  employed  at  your 
«  discretion*. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

<  B.  LINCOLN.' 
'Gen.  Mou  LTRIE." 

e» 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  SHELDON,   July  14th,  1779. 
<DEAR  SIR, 

'  I  HAVE  the  honor  to  acquaint  you  that  I  arrived 
{  at  this  camp  last  night.  I  have  ordered  the  Georgia 


*  At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  William  Jasper  entered 
into  my  regiment,  (the  second)  and  was  made  a  sergeant ;  he 
•was  a  brave,  active,  stout,  strong,  enterprising  man,  and  a  very 
great  partizan.  I  had  such  confidence  in  him,  that  when  I  was 
in  die  field,  I  gave  him  a  roving  commission,  and  liberty  to  pick 
out  his  men  from  my  brigade,  he  seldom  would  take  more  than 
six :  he  went  often  out,  and  returned  with  prisoners  before  1  knew 
he  was  gone.  I  have  known  of  his  catching  a  party  that  was 
looking  for  him.  He  has  told  me  that  he  could  have  killed 
single  men  several  times,  but  he  would  not,  he  would  rather 
let  them  get  off.  He  went  into  the  British  lines  at  Savannah, 
and  delivered  himself  up  as  a  deserter,  complaining  at  the  same 
time,  of  our  ill  usage  to  him,  he  was  gladly  received  (they 
having  heard  of  his  character)  and  caressed  by  them.  He 
stayed  eight  days,  and  after  informing  himself  well  of  their 
strength,  situation  and  intentions,  he  returned  to  us  again;  but 
that  game  he  could  not  play  a  second  time.  With  his  little 
party  he  was  always  hovering  about  the  enemy's  camp,  and 
was  frequently  bringing  in  prisoners.  I  have  already  spoken 
of  him  on  the  a8th  of  June  1776,  and  shall  say  more  of  him 
in  another  place  hereafter. 


25 

c  troops  to  move  for  Augusta.     I  have  sent  a  fiat 
'  from    Ashepoo    to  Combahee,    over    land ;      and 

*  will    have   a  large   one    finished    in  a    few    days. 
'  I  do  nol  write  you  any  thing  relative  to  our  camp, 
'  or  the  enemy,  as  I  have  not  had  time  to  make  the 
4  necessary  inquiries.     I  therefore  refer   you  to  Col. 
'  D.  Horry,    who  waits  on  you  with  this.    We  shall 

*  want  him  again. 

1  I  am,  &c.  . 

*  WM.  MOUITRIE.' 


To  THE  SAME. 

»  SHELDON,  July  17th,  1779. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

»  I  RECEIVED  your  favors  of  the  llth  and  13th. 

*  The  last  information   I   received  from  the  enemy» 
1  and  from  good  authority,  is,    that  they  have  sent 
'  some  of  their  troops  to  Savannah,   and  have  kept 
'  the  71st,    the    light-infantry,  and    some    Hessians, 
1  posted  in  the  following  manner  ;   the  71st  at  Beau- 
1  fort,  and  the  Hessians   at  Mile-End,  throwing  up 
'  some  works  ;  this  place  is  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 

*  about  a  mile  from  the  town,  not  more"  than  300 
'  yards  across,    on  each  side   is  a  navigable   river, 
'  which   makes  it   a  very  strong  post  indeed  :    the 
1  light-infantry,    (between  3  and  400)   are    opposite 
1  Port-royal-ferry,  in   sight  of  one  of  our  guards  at 


25 

1  Uie  redoubt ;  the  whole  of  their  number  does  not 

*  exceed    1,000  men.      It  appears  to  me  as  if  they 
'  would  leave  the  place  before  long.     I  imagine  they 
'  have    not   shipping  enough    to    take    them    off  at 

*  one  trip,   and  are  therefore  obliged  to  wait  the  re- 
'  turn  of  the  vessels  which  carrud  the  first  division. 

'  As  there  are  matters  of  the  utmost  consequence 
*  *  to  come  on  the  carpet,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
'  general  assembly,  I  propose  to  be  in  town,  to  at- 
4  tend  the  Senate,  if  you  have  no  particular  objec- 
1  tion  :  and  will  also  give  leave  to  as  many  officers, 
'  members  of  the  assembly,  to  attend  as  can  possi- 
'  bly  be  spared.  The  business  here,  in  my  opinion, 

*  will  be  only  to  wait  on  the  motions  of  the  enemy, 
1  which   I   think  will  be  passive  enough  ;  they  only 

*  mean  to  keep  possession  of  the   Island  in  peace 
4  while  they  stay.  I  have  sent  off  the  Georgia  troops, 
1  and  have  also  detached  Capt.  Newman's  company 
4  of  horse,  and   Jasper's  little   party,  to  harrass  and 

*  perplex  the  enemy  in  that  state ;    I  have  given  them 

*  directions  to  join  Col.  Dooley,  should  he  be  under- 
c  taking  any  thing  capital.     I  have  been  employed, 
'  these  two  days,    in  reconnoitering  the  country  in 

*  this  neighborhood :  Col.  Garden,    with  about  100 

*  men,    has  taken  post  at  Gordon's  plantation,  on 

*  Scotch-neck,  and  detached  about  20  men  to  Page's- 
4  point,  where  the  battery  is  built :  Col.  Hammond 

*  is  here  with  about  40  men  ;  these  are  all  the  mili- 


27 

«  tia  of  this  state,  that  are  now  in  the  field,  near  this 

*  place :    I  have   changed  my  opinion,    relative  to 
'  commencing  a  new  campaign,  I  rather  think  the 
«  enemy  are  lingering  out  the  old  one  :     Our  camp 

*  will  be  very  small  in  a  fortnight,  as  the  time  of 
«  the   North-Carolinians  will  expire,    and  I    see  no 

<  method  taken  by  this  state,  to  replace  their  num- 
{  bers :  before  I  quit  this,  I   will  arrange  matters  in 
'  the  best  way  I  can  :   Col.  Pinckney   informs  me 

*  that  the  3rd  regiment  mutinied  this  morning  ;  their 

*  complaint  is,  the  want  of  pay  and  cloathing  ;  it  is  up- 
1  wards  of  four  months,  and  some  of  them  five,  since 

*  they  have  received  any  pay  ;   which  must  appear 

*  long  to  those  who  had  always  been  paid  regularly 
1  every  month.     I  will  be  obliged  to  you  to  order  the 
{  auditors  to  make  a  few  copies  of  forms  for  pay-bills, 
'  such  as  Congress  directs  :    several  sets  of  pay-bills 
'  have  been  sent  down,    but  are  returned  with  this 

<  answer,   "  that  they  are  not  proper,  and  cannot  be 

<  paid."     I  wish  something  would  be  done  to  bring 

<  their  pay  regularly  about  as  usual. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

1  WM.  MOULT R is.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

<  DEAR  Sin,  .  <  SHELDON,  July  18th,  1779. 

'  I  WROTE   you  yesterday,  since  which,    I  have 

*  been  informed  that  Gen.  Scott  is  on  his  march  from 


28 

1  Salisbury  to  this  place  :  as  there  is  no  immediate 

*  call  for  those  troops  this  way,     I  would    humbly 
'  submit  my  opinion  to  you,  whether  it  would  not  be 
'  best  to  order  them  through   the  back  country,  to 

*  Augusta ;  where  they  can  be   supplied   with  every 
'  necessary,   and  keep  the  enemy  in  continual  appre- 

*  hension  ;  besides  encouraging  and  supporting  our 
4  friends  in  that  quarter  :  I  fear  if  they  march  through 
1  this  low  country,  at  this  extreme   hot   season,  it 

*  will  render  many  of  them  useless,  for  a  considera- 

*  ble  time.     Col.   Twig  was  with  me  yesterday,  and 

*  says  they  are  in  want  of  ammunition   at  Augusta  : 

*  I  informed  him  that  you  had  sent  some  to  Col. 

*  Dooley  :  I  wrote  you  yesterday  that  I  proposed  be- 
4  ing  in   town  at  the  meeting  of  the   general  assem- 
'  bly  :  if  you  have  no  objection,  I   shall  leave   this 
4  next  Friday. 

'  I  am,  8cc. 

*  WM.  MOULT*  IE.» 

FROM  G*N.  LINCOLN. 

'  PIEAD-QJART£*S,  July    19tll,    1779. 

4  DEAR  Sia, 

'  SENSIBLE  of  the  necessity  for  your  attendance 

*  in  the  Senate,  it  is  my  desire,  yourself,  and  as  ma- 
6  ny  officers,  members  of  the  house,  as  can,  consist- 
4  ent  witli  the  duties  and  welfare  of  the  service,  be 

-d,  may,  with  ail  convj.;L:;t  speed,  repair  to 


29 

<  town,  after  the  meeting  of  the  house.     The  audi- 

*  tors  and  pay-masters  are  to  repair  to  camp  this  af- 
'  ternoon,  in  order  to  pay  the  army. 

*  I  am,  See. 

'  B.  LINCOLN. 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE,' 

GEM.  Lincoln  wished  all  the  officers  of  the  army 
that  were  members  of  the  general  assembly,  to  at- 
tend at  the  meeting,  that  they  might  be  upon  the 
spot,  to  inform  the  Representatives  with  the  difficul- 
ty there  was  in  this  state  to  keep  an  army  together  : 
that  it  was  a  folly  to  depend  upon  the  militia  ;  that 
it  was  impossible  to  keep  them  in  the  field  :  there- 
fore some  other  method  must  be  fallen  upon  to  raise 
an  army,  or  else  the  country  must  be  given  up. 

LETTER  FROM  COL.  MAITLAND. 

«  BEAUFORT,  July  19th,  1779. 
«  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  SEND  you  by  this  flag  of  truce,  a  young  man,* 

*  which  Lieutenant  Parham,   one  of   your  officers, 


*  This  young  man  was  left  as  a  safeguard  on  the  field,  to 
protect  Captain  Campbell  from  being  killed  by  our  soldiers,  but 
he  had  nearly  been  killed  by  their's :  when  we  were  obliged  to 
retreat,  Captain  Campbell  could  scarcely  save  him.  'Tis  an 
unpleasant  situation  to  be  placed  as  a  safeguard  on  the  fkld  ot 
battle,  over  any  one. 

VOL.  it.  E 


*  was  so  good  as  to  leave  with  Captain  Collin  Camp- 

*  bell  of  the  71st  regiment,  vhen  wounded  at  Stono. 
'  The  lad   should  have  been  returned  long  ere  now, 
<  but  our  army's  being  in  motion,  and  Captain  Camp- 

*  bell  at  a  distance  from  where  I  was,   rendered  it 
'  impossible.      We    are    extremely   obliged   to  Mr. 

*  Parham   for    his   attention    to    Captain   Campbell, 
«  who  begs  you  will  assure  him,    that  he   will  ever 

*  retain   a  most  grateful   sense  of  his  humanity  and 

*  goodness.     A   Mrs.  Odingse'l   of  this  island,  has 
'  acquainted   me   that  a  small  party  of  your  people 

*  took  her  son,    (a  boy)   from  the  plantation   some 
4  time  since,  and  that  he    still  remains   a  prisoner. 
'  I  cannot  help    thinking  that   this  has  been   done 
«  \vithout  your  consent,   as  the  boy  is  only  fourteen 
'  years  old,    and  never  carried  arms  ;    however,  if 

*  ycu  hold  him  as  a  prisoner  of  war;    as  his  mother 
'  is  extremely  uneasy  on  his  account,    I  shall  take  it 

*  as  a  favor,  if  you  will  release  him,  and  send  him 

*  here  on  his  parole,  until  we  can  exchange  him. 

*  BY  this  opportunity,  I  also  send  you  some  letters  ; 

*  amongst  them  is  one  for  Miss  C— — ,    containing 
1  1  GO  pounds  Carolina  currency,  and  a  50  dollar  bill; 

*  a.  portmanteau  containing  cloaths,  and  a  letter  with 
«  3  half  joes,   are  also  sent  to  Ensign  M'Pherson,  of 
'  'he  7  li-t,  who  was  left  sick  at  the  widow  He)  ward's, 

4  I  beg  you  •»  ill  order  to  be  delivered  him ;   if 
'  there  should  occur  to    you  any  thing  in  which  I 


51 

4  can  be  of  service  to   you  here,  I  shall  be  happy  in 

*  the  opportunity  of  obliging  you.     There  was  a  pro- 
'  posal  made  by  Major  M' Arthur,  to  Major  Pinckney 

*  of  yours,    relative    to    the    exchanging  of  Ensign 

*  M'Pherson  for  Doctor  Hailing.     I  should  be  happy 
'  to  know   whether   you  approve  of  this  exchange 
'  taking  place. 

*  I  am  sir,  &c. 

'  JOHN  MAITLAND, 

Lieut.  Col.  71st  Regt. 
4  Gen.  MOULT RIE.' 


To  COL.  MAITLAND. 

<  SHELDON,  July  20th,  1779, 
<  SIR, 

'  I  WAS  honored  with  your  favor  of  yesterday  : 
{  the  soldier  who  was  left  by    Lieut.  Col.  Henderson 

*  of  the  6th  South-Carolina  regiment,  with  Col.  Camp- 
{  bell  on  the  field  at  Stono,  is   returned,  but  without 
'  his  arms.    Lieut.  Parham  of  the  1st  regiment,  was 
'  the  gentleman  who  assisted  another  of  your  officers, 
'  when  laying  wounded  on  the  field,  and  who,    after 
f  repeated  intreaties,  received  his  watch  of  him  :*  if 

*  the  officer  still  survives,  and   will  send  his  name, 
1  Mr.  Parham  will   immediately  return  his  watch  ; 
4  having,  at  same  time,  assured  the  owner  that  he 


*  A  handsome  gold  watch. 


32 

1  would  receive  it  upon  no  other  terms  ;  as  it  was 
'  for  liberty,  not  for  plunder  that  we  fought.  Mrs. 
'  Odingsell's  son  was  brought  off  before  I  came  to 

*  this  place  :  I  will   endeavor,  however,  to  get  him 

*  restored  to  his  mother  ;  upon  his  parole,  at  least, 
«  as  soon   as  possible.     I  have  received  the  several 
1  letters  that  accompanied  your's  ;  that,  containing 

*  160  pounds,  and  a  50  dollar  bill,  and  the  other  shall 
'  be  delivered,  as  directed.     Mr.   M'Pherson's  port- 
'  manteau,  containing  the   articles  specified  in  the 
c  letter,  with  the  three  half-joes  shall  be  sent  him,  by 

*  the  first  opportunity  :    I  am  infinitely  obliged   to 
1  you,  for  your  kind  offer  of  service  ;  and  shall  be 

*  happy,  in  my  turn,  to  have  in  my   power  to  oblige 
'  you  :  I  must  beg   you  would   excuse  my   being  so 
'  frequently  troublesome,  in  granting  flags  and  pas- 

*  ses  ;  but,  as  there  are   a  number  of  widow  ladies, 

*  who  flatter  themselves  with  the  hopes  of  recovering 
'  some  part  of  their  property  on  the  Island,  I  cannot 

*  well  refuse  them.    Not  having  seen  Major  Pinck- 
'  ney  since  his  interview  with  Major  M'Arthur,  it 

*  is  not  in  my  power  to  say  what  passed  between 

*  them,  relative  to  the  exchange. 

'  I  am,  kc. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

JUIT  20th.     At  this  time,  nothing  material  was 
done  ;   the  legislature  was  in  session  ;  and  our  little 


33 

army  remained  at  Sheldon,  waiting  upon  the  British, 
who  had  taken  post  at  Beaufort,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Maitland.  About  the  4th  of  Septem- 
ber, an  officer  came  to  town,  from  Count  D'Estaing's 
fleet,  then  off  our  bar,  consisting  of  20  sail  of  the 
line  ;  two  50  gun  ships  ;  and  1 1  frigates,  to  acquaint 
Gen.  Lincoln  that  the  Count  D'Estaing  was  ready 
to  co-operate  with  him  in  the  reduction  of  Savannah, 
and  at  the  same  time,  to  urge  the  necessity  of  dis- 
patch ;  as  he  could  not  remain  long  upon  our  coasf, 
at  fiis  season  of  the  year.  This  information  put  us 
all  in  high  spirits :  the  legislature  adjourned  :  the 
governor  and  council,  and  the  military  joined  hear- 
tily, in  expediting  every  thing  that  was  necessary  : 
boats  were  sent  to  Count  D'Estaing's  fleet,  to  assist 
in  taking  the  cannon  and  stores  on  shore  :  every  one 
cheerful,  as  if  we  were  sure  of  success  ;  and  no  one 
doubted  but  that  we  had  nothing  more  to  do,  than 
to  march  up  to  Savannah;  and  demand  a  surrender  : 
the  militia  were  draughted  ;  and  a  great  number  of 
volunteers  joined  readily,  to  be  present  at  the  sur- 
render ;  and  in  hopes  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
the  British  march  out,  and  deliver  up  their  arms  ; 
but,  alas  !  it  turned  out  a  bloody  affair  ;  and  we 
were  repulsed  from  the  lines,  with  the  loss  of  8  or 
900  men  killed  and  wounded  :  and  1  think  I  may 
say,  that  the  militia  volunteers  were  much  disap- 
pointed ;  as  I  suppose  they  did  not  go  with  the  ex- 


34 

pectalion  of  storming  lines  ;  I  was  pleased,  when  I 
was  informed  that  in  general  they  behaved  well  ;  and 
they  could  truly  say,  they  had  been  in  very  severe 
fire.  On  the  5th  of  September,  Gen.  Lincoln  order- 
ed all  officers  and  soldiers  to  join  their  respective 
regiments  ;  and  on  the  8th  the  continentals  were 
drawn  from  the  forts,  which  were  garrisoned  by 
the  militia :  Gen.  Lincoln  goes  off  to  take  command 
of  the  army  at  Sheldon,  about  the  12th,  and  orders 
the  troops,  that  were  appointed  to  join  the  army,  to 
follow  as  soon  as  possible  ;  leaving  myself  the  com- 
mand of  Charlestown,  with  a  few  continentals  and 
the  militia  :  Gen.  Lincoln  lay  with  his  army  at 
M'Millens',  three  miles  from  Savannah,  from  the 
17th  to  the  23d  September:  on  the  23d  our  army 
joined  the  French,  and  encamped  before  Savannah. 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

'  CAMP,  BEFORE  SAVANNAH,  Sept.  24th,  1779. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

«  I  AM  very  glad  you  detained  the  North-Coro- 
'  lina  militia  in  town  ;*  for  they  cannot,  I  think,  arrive 
'  here  in  time.  Ground  was  broken  last  night,  very 
'  near  the  enemy's  lines,  towards  their  left,  with  very 
*  little  interruption.  The  cannonf  and  mortars  will 


*  A  reinforcement  just  came  in  to  us. 
+  The  cannon  and  mortars  were  landed  at  Thunderbolt, 
about  five  miles  from  Savannah,  and  drawn  to  camp  over  land* 


35 

'  soon  be  up,  and  ground  opened  in  different  places* 
* I  should  invite  you  to  camp,  but  think  the  matter 
'  will  be  determined  one  way  or  other,  before  you 
*  can  possibly  arrive.  '  I  am,  &c. 

4  Gen.  MOULTRIE.  *  B.  LINCOLN.' 


To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
1  CHARLESTOWN,  Sept.  26th,  1779. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

'  I  HAVE  just  now  been  honored  with  your  favor 

*  of  the  24th  inst.  by  which,  I  am  glad  to  be  informed 
4  that  you  have  approached  so  near  the  enemy's  lines, 
«  without  any  loss.     I  hope  a  few  days  more  will  de_ 
'  termine  them  to  surrender  to  the  united  forces  of 
i  France    and    America.      I  should  have  been    ex- 

*  tremely  happy  to  have   shared  the  glory,   but  the 
f  fates  have  forbid  it.     I  hope  soon  to  have  the  plea- 

*  sure  of  seeing  some  of  your  young  gentlemen  with 

*  the    joyful  news    of  the    surrender    of  Savannah. 

*  Yesterday  arrived  another  500,000  dollars  for  the 

'  state  of  Georgia.  I  have  ordered  it  to  be  lodged 
1  with  Mr.  Jervais  in  the  same  manner  as  the  former, 
4  until  I  shall  receive  your  orders  thereupon.*  One 


*  At  this  time  our  money  was  very  much  depreciated,  1618 
for  one,  and  we  talked  of  millions,  and  in  fact,  it  was  next  to 
nothing;  there  was  one  convenkncy  in  it,  which  wss,  that  a 
couple  of  men  on  horse-back,  with  their  bags,  could  convey  a 
million  of  dollars  from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other, 
in  a  little  time,  with  great  facility. 


36 

*  million  and  a  half  more,  will  be  in  to-morro\v,  for 
'  the  purpose  of   exchanging  the  two  emissions  which 

*  were  stopped  in  circulation. 

*  I  am,  Sec. 

*  WM.  MOULT* IE.' 

THE  army  before  Savannah  was  employed  in  mak- 
ing fascines,  and  building  batteries ;  and  the  4th  of 
October,  at  5  o'clock,  A.  M.  the  batteries  opened 
upon  the  town  with  37  pieces  of  cannon,  on  the  land 
side,  and  1 6  from  the  water ;  and  9  mortars,  to 
throw  shells  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  French 
army  lay  before  Savannah,  7  days  before  Gen.  Lin- 
coln's army  got  up,  and  demanded  a  surrender  on 
the  1 6th  September,  and  the  garrison  requested  24 
hours,  to  consider  on  an  answer  :  in  the  mean  time, 
Col.  Maitland  got  into  Savannah,  with  a  strong  re- 
inforcement from  Beaufort.  The  -batteries  continued 
their  fire,  for  4  or  5  days,  with  very  little  intermis- 
sion :  Gen.  Provost  sent  out  to  request  leave  to  send 
the  women  and  children  without  the  lines  ;  but  it 
was  denied,  supposing  he  only  wanted  to  gain  time. 
Count  D'Estaing  having  been  now  a  month  with  his 
fleet  on  our  coast,  and  close  in  shore  ;  his  officers 
remonstrated  to  htm,  the  dangerous  situation  the 
fleet  was  in,  and  the  hazards  they  run  of  being  at- 
tacked by  the  British  fleet,  whilst  theirs  was  in  a 
bad  condition  ;  and  a  great  many  of  their  officers 


and  men  on  shore  :  these  representations  determin- 
ed the  Count  D'Estaing  to  call  a  council,  in  which 
the  opinion  of  the  engineers  was,  that  it  would  re- 
quire lo  days  more  to  work  into  the  enemy's  lines  ; 
upon  which  it  was  determined  to  try  to  carry  them 
by  an  assault ;  and  on  the  8th,  the  following  order 
was  issued. 

EVENING  ORDERS,  BY  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
WATCH  WORD-LEWIS. 

*  THE  soldiers  will  be  immediately  supplied  with 
40  rounds  of  cartridges ;    a  spare  flint ;   and  have 
their  arms  in  good  order.' 

*  THE  infantry  destined  for  the  attack  of  Savannah, 
will  be  divided  into  two  bodies  :  the  first  composed 
of  the  light  troops,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Lau- 
rens ;  the  second  of  the  continental  battalions,  and 
the  first  battalion  of  the  Charlestown  militia,  except 
the  grenadiers,  who  are  to  join  the  light  troops  :  the 
whole  will  parade  at   1  o'clock,  near  the  left  of  the 
line  ;  and  march  by  the  right,  by  platoons.' 

«  THE  guards  of  the  camp,  will  be  formed  of  the 
invalids,  and  be  charged  to  keep  the  fires  as  usual, 
in  camp.' 

*  THE  cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Count  Pau- 
laski,  will  parade  at  the  same  time  with  the  infan- 
try,  and  follow  the  left  column  of  the  French  troops> 
and  precede  the  column  of  the  American  light  troops  ; 

TOL.   II.  F 

461811 


HI 

they  will  endeavor  to  penetrate  the  enemy's  lines, 
between  the  battery,  on  the  left  of  the  Spring-hill 
redoubt,  and  the  next  towards  the  river :  having  ef- 
fected this,  they  will  pass  to  the  left,  towards  Ya- 
macraw  ;  and  secure  such  parties  of  the  enemy,  as 
tnay  be  lodged  in  that  quarter.' 

'  THE  artillery  will  parade  at  the  same  time;  follow 
the  French  artillery,  and  remain  with  the  corps  de  re- 
serve, until  they  receive  further  orders.' 

*  THE  whole  will  be  ready  by  the  time  appointed, 
with  the  utmost  silence  and  punctuality  ;  and  be  rea- 
dy to  march,  the  instant  Count  D'Estaing  and  Gen. 
Lincoln  shall  order.' 

'  THE  light  troops,  who  are  to  follow  the  cavalry, 
will  attempt  to  enter  the  redoubt,  on  the  left  of  the 
Spring-hill,  by  escalade,  if  possible,  if  not,  by  en- 
trance  into  it ;  they  are  to  be  supported,  if  necessa- 
ry, by  the  first  South-Carolina  regiment :  in  the 
mean  time,  the  column  will  proceed  with  the  lines 
to  the  left  of  the  Spring-hill  battery.' 

*  THE  light  troops,  having  succeeded  against  the 
redoubt,  will  proceed  to  the  left,    and  attempt  the 
several  works  between  that  and  the  river.' 

*  THE  column  will  move  to  the  left  of  the  French 
troops,  taking  care  not  to  interfere  with  them.' 

*  THE  light  troops,  having  carried  the  works  to- 
wards the  river,  will  form  on  the  left  of  the  column.' 

*  IT  is  expressly  forbid  to  fire  a  single  gun  before 


39 

the  redoubts  are  carried,  or  for  any  soldier  to  quit  his 
rank,  to  plunder,  without  an  order  for  that  purpose  : 
any  who  shall  presume  to  transgress,  in  either  of 
these  respects,  shall  be  reputed  a  disobeyer  of  mili- 
tary orders,  which  is  punishable  with  death.' 

*  THE  militia  of  the   first  and  second  brigades; 
Gen.  Williamson's,  and  the  second  battalion  of  the 
Charlestown  militia,  will  parade  immediately,  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Huger,  after  draughting  500 
of  them  ;  the  remainder  of  them  will  go  into  the 
trenches,  and  put  themselves  under  the  command  of 
the  commanding  officer  there :    with  the   500,    he 
will  march  to  the  left  of  the  enemy's  lines,  and  re- 
main as  near  them  as  he  possibly  can,    without  be- 
ing discovered,  until  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at 
which  time,  the  troops  in  the  trenches,  will  begin 
an  attack  upon  the  enemy  :    he  will  then  advance, 
and  make  his  attack  as  near  the  river  as  possible ; 
though  this  is  only  meant  as  a  feint,  yet  should  a 
favorable  opportunity  offer,  he  will  improve  it,  and 
push  into  the  town.' 

*  IN   case  of  a  repulse,    after  having  taken   the 
Spring-hill  redoubt  the  troops  will  retreat,  and  rally 
in  the  rear  of  the  redoubt ;  if  it  cannot  be  effected 
that  way,  it  must  be  attempted  by  the   same  rout  at 
which  they  entered.' 

*  THE  second  place  of  rallying  (or  the  first,  if  the 
redoubt  should  not  be  carried)  will  be  at  the  Jew's 


burying-ground,  where  the  reserve  will  be  placed  : 
if  these  two  halts  should  not  be  effectual,  they  will 
retire  towards  camp.' 

<  THE  troops  will   carry  on  their  hats,  a  piece  of 
white  paper,  by  which  they  will  be  distinguished.' 

THE  order  for  the  attack,  shows  it  was  to  have 
been  made  on  the  British  lines  at  4  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  but  by  some  means  or  other,  it  was  de- 
layed until  it  was  clear  day-light,  which  gave  the 
enemy  a  very  great  advantage,  because  they  could 
see  our  columns  marching  up,  and  knew  where  to 
direct  their  fire,  consequently  our  troops  suffered 
much,  before  they  got  up  to  the  works  ;  and  on  their 
attack  upon  the  Spring-hill  battery,  they  were  so 
crowded  in  the  ditch,  and  upon  the  berm,  that  they 
could  scarcely  raise  an  arm  ;  and  while  they  were 
in  this  situation,  huddled  up  together,  did  the  Brit- 
ish load  and  fire  upon  them  very  deliberately,  with- 
out any  danger  to  themselves  :  a  body  of  them  came 
out,  and  formed  a  line  to  the  left  of  their  battery, 
within  their  abbettis,  and  kept  up  a  warm  fire  upon 
our  troops  until  they  retreated  t  in  all  this  confusion 
Limits.  Hume  and  Bush  planted  the  colors  of  the 
second  South-Carolina  regiment  upon  the  ramparts, 
but  they  were  soon  killed.  Lieut.  Grey  was  on  the 
ramparts,  near  the  colors,  and  received  his  mortal 
wound ;  and  the  gallant  Jasper  was  with  them,  and 


41 

supported  one  of  the  colors,  until  he  received  hU 
death  wound,  however  he  brought  off  one  of  the  co. 
lors  with  him,  and  died  in  a  little  time  after.     The 
second  regiment  gained  great   honor  in  this  affair: 
they  lost  Major  Motte,  marching  up  to  the  attack  ; 
and  3  lieuts.  and  Sergeant  Jasper,  killed  in  support- 
ing their  colors  on  the  ramparts  ;    besides  many- 
others  killed  and  wounded :  of  the   Carolina  troops, 
Major   Wise  and  Capt.    Shepherd  was  killed,  and 
Capt.  Warren  wounded.     Count  D'Estaing  received 
two  wounds  ;    and    Count  Paulaski,  at  the  head  of 
his  cavalry,  received  his  mortal  wound,  from  one  of 
the  gallies. 

OUR  troops  remained  before  the  lines,  in  this  hot 
fire  fifty-five  minutes  :  the  generals  seeing  no  pros- 
pect of  success,  were  constrained  to  order  a  retreat, 
after  having  637  French,  and  457  continentals  killed 
and  wounded :  the  Charlestown  militia,  although  in  a 
warm  part  of  the  fire,  were  fortunate  enough  to  have 
only  Captain  Shepherd  killed,  and  five  or  six  wounded. 
General  Huger  made  his  attack  at  the  same  time, 
but  had  to  wade  through  a  rice  field  ;  he  was  received 
with  music  and  a  warm  fire  of  cannon  and  jnus- 
ketry,  and  after  losing  a  few  men,  they  retreated 
faster  than  they  marched  up.  The  assailants  upon 
Savannah  were  about  2,500  French  troops,  headed  by 
Count  D'Estaing,  and  4000  Americans,  militia  includ- 
ed, headed  by  Gen.  Lincoln  ;  the  garrison  was  about 


42 

2,500,  and  of  those,  only  150  of  them  were  militia* 
The  British  it  was  supposed,  had  information  the  day 
before,  by  a  sergeant  from  the  Charlestown  Grena- 
diers, who  went  in  to  them)  and  gave  them  a  particu- 
lar account  of  our  plan  of  attack.  They  knew  our 
force  was  to  be  led  to  the  Spring-hill  battery,  and 
they  were  prepared  accordingly  by  filling  that  post 
with  as  many  men  as  it  could  possibly  hold ;  and 
they  knew  that  General  Huger's  attack  was  only  to 
be  a  feint,  they  therefore  drew  almost  all  their 
troops  from  their  left  to  their  right.  There  cannot 
be  a  doubt,  but  that  if  the  French  and  American 
armies  had  marched  into  Savannah  when  they  ar- 
rived on  the  17th,  they  would  have  carried  the  town 
very  easily,  because  at  that  time,  they  had  only  the 
Spring-hill  battery  completed  and  no  abbettis  round 
the  town ;  instead  of  which,  they  employed  themselves 
in  throwing  up  batteries  for  their  cannon  and  mor- 
tars, which  were  of  very  little  consequence  till  the 
9th  of  October,  before  they  made  their  attack,  which 
gave  the  besieged  three  weeks  to  fortify  themselves, 
and  their  success  proves  that  they  were  not  idle  in 
that  time.  After  this  repulse,  the  idea  of  taking 
Savannah  by  regular  approaches,  was  still  kept  up  ; 
but  Count  D:Estaing's  marine  officers  being  rery 
uneasy  at  the  situation  of  his  fleet,  pressed  his  de- 
parture, he  then  ordered  all  his  cannon  and  stores 
on  board,  and  embarked  his  troops  from  Thunderbolt, 
and  left  the  coast  of  America. 


43 

WE  were  then  in  a  much  worse  situation  than 
before  he  arrived :  the  unfortunate  militia  of  Georgia 
who  had  taken  the  British  protection,  could  not  go 
back  to  them  again,  after  they  had  joined  us,  but 
were  obliged  to  seek  for  shelter  in  a  strange  country, 
or  live  in  the  back  woods  of  their  own.  This  disap- 
pointment depressed  our  spirits  very  much,  and  we 
began  to  be  apprehensive  for  the  safety  of  these  two 
southern  states  j  it  also  depreciated  our  money  so 
Very  low,  that  it  was  scarcely  worth  any  thing. 

GENERAL  Lincoln  retreated  with  the  Americans 
as  far  as  Ebenezer  Heights,  and,  on  the  19th  of 
October,  left  the  army  to  follow  him  to  Charlestown. 
In  November  the  small-pox  broke  out  in  Charlestown, 
after  it  had  been  kept  out  of  the  country  near  twenty 
years. 

LETTER  TO  GEN,  LINCOLN. 

«  CHARLKSTOWN,  Nov.  17th,  1779. 
DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  HAVE   nothing  new  to  write  you ;    but  new 

*  discoveries  are  made  every  day  of  the  small-pox  ; 
'  the  persons  are  immediately  removed  to  the  pest- 

*  house.     I  expect  it  will  continue  to  make  its  ap- 

*  pearance  for  some  days  to  come  ;   but  I  hope  we 

*  shall  be  able  to  put  an  entire  stop  to  it  soon. 

*  I  am,  &c. 
*  Gen.  LINCOLN.  *  W*t.  MOULTRIK.' 


44 

THE  small-pox  breaking  out  in  Charlestown,  was 
a  very  good  pretence  for  the  militia  not  coming  into 
town  :  in  fact,  they  dreaded  that  disorder  more  than 
the  enemy. 

THE  British  finding  they  could  make  no  impres- 
sion upon  the  northern  states,  reversed  the  proverb  of 
"  taking  the  bull  by  the  horns,"  and  turned  their 
thoughts  on  the  southern  states ;  their  late  success 
in  the  repulse  of  the  French  and  Americans  from 
Savannah,  and  still  keeping  possession,  encouraged 
them  in  the  undertaking,  and  in  December  a  large 
army  embarked  from  New-York,  under  command  of 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  convoyed  by  Admiral  Arbuthnot, 
with  several  men  of  war :  they  had  a  long  and  boister- 
ous passage,  and  arrived  at  Savannah  on  the  1 1th  of 
February  ;  after  staying  there  a  few  days,  a  strong 
detachment  under  General  Patterson,  was  ordered  to 
cross  over  to  Purisburgh,  and  march  through  the 
southern  parts  of  the  state;  whilst  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
with  the  body  of  the  army,  came  round  with  the 
fleet  to  Stono-inlet,  and  landed  the  troops  on  John 
and  James'-Islands.  We  soon  received  accounts  of 
the  arrival  of  the  British  army  at  Savannah  :  at  this 
time  the  legislature  were  sitting,  they  immediately 
adjourned,  and  all  officers  and  soldiers  were  ordered 
to  their  posts. 


45 

LETTER  FROM  GEN.  PROVOST. 

«  SAVANNAH,  Feb.  19th,  IT'SO. 
6  SIR, 

«  I  HAVE  received  the  honor  of  your  letter  of 
<  the  1 6th  inst.  and  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  tjje 
«  favor  :  Captain  Pemberton  has  been  detained  at  one 
«  of  our  posts,  from  which  he  will  be  sent  back,  as 

*  soon  as  my  letter  arrives  there.     General  Lincoln 
4  will  also  accept  my  thanks.     I  have  been  happy  to 
'  find  that    our  prisoners  have   been  treated    with 
'  civility,   particularly   Captain    Constable,    unjustly 
'  oppressed.     I  was  to   send  back  your's  on  parole, 
'  but  a  fleet  and  army  being  arrived,  I  have  not  had 
'  it  in  my  power  to  effect  it,  they  having  demanded  to 

*  defer  their  going  :  the  other  flag  came  in  a  canoe  ; 
«  it  has  not  been  thought  prudent  to  send  her  back 

*  as  yet,  from  this  place. 

{ I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

<  A.  PROVOST. 
f  Col.  DAN.HORRY.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<  HEAD-QUARTERS,  CHARLESTOWN? 

Feb.  19th,  1780. 
<DEAR  SIR, 

«  You  will  please  to  proceed  immediately  to  Ba- 

*  con's-Bridge,  where  you  will  form  a  camp  of  the 
«  militia  of  that  part  of  the  neighborhood,  and  of 


45 

«  those  who  are  ordered  to  this  town  ;   if  you  should 

*  find  it  necessary,    or  for  the  safety  of  the  troops 

<  under  Colonel  Marion,  or  for  the  defence  of  your 
«  post,  you  will  call  on  him  also  :  you  will  at  all  times 
1  ieep  hanging  on  the  enemy's  flanks,    and  oppose^ 
«  them  at  every  advantageous  pass.     As  the  horse 

<  will  be  under  your  direction,  you  will  give  such 

*  orders  as  may  be  necessary  for  a  co-operation  of 

<  them  and  the   infantry.     You  will  cause  to  be  re- 

*  moved,    all  the  horses,  beaves,   sheep,  swine,  car- 

*  riages,    boats,    and  indeed  every  thing  which  may 
'  comfort  the  enemy,  or  facilitate  their  march,  saving 
t  such  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  support  of  fami- 

*  lies  left.     You  will  throw  up  a  work  on  the  rising 
'  ground,    on  this  side  Bacon's-bridge,    to  command 

*  it.     You  will  on  approach  of  the  enemy,  previous 

*  to  your  leaving  your  post,    effectually  destroy  the 

*  bridge.     You  will  please  to  examine  Stan's-bridge, 
1  and  the  swamp  above  it,  and  report  your  opinion  of 

*  the  practicability  of  passing  it  with  heavy  cannon. 

*  You  will  keep  a  small  guard  at  Dorchester-bridge, 

*  and  one  on  your  right  at   Slan's-bridge.     You  will 
'  advise  me  daily  of  your  situation  and  strength,  and 

*  of  the  state  of  the  enemy.    You  will  keep  the  horse 
4  as  near  the  enemy  as  possible. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

«B.  LINCOLN. 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  Feb.  22d,  1780. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  DID  not  write  you  sooner,  as  I  waited  for 
1  the  return  of  a  party  of  horse  that  had  gone  out 
'  towards  the  enemy's  lines  at  Stono,  which  returned 
(  last  night.  Major  Jemison  informs  me  he  was 
'  within  view  of  the  Gentries  of  their  picquets,  posted 

*  at  the  Cross-roads,    that  he  had  not  heard  of  any 
'  number  coming  out,  except  the  first  day  or  two, 

*  to  drive  in  some  stock.     By  the  accounts  he   got, 
'  he  believes    there  are  not  so  many  at  Stono,    as 

*  when  they  first  took  post  there,   that  some  of  them 

*  are  returned  to  John's-Island.     I  have  not  one  mi- 

*  litia-man   doing  duty  here.     I  am  informed  they 

*  are  patroling  in  their  different  districts  ;    they  de- 
1  clare  against  going  to  town  ;   from  what  I  can  un- 
'  derstand,  they  are  afraid  of  the  small-pox  breaking 

*  out,   when  they  are  cooped  up,   which  they  say, 
'  will  be  worse  to  them  than  the  enemy.     When 
1  they  collect  here,   I  shall  employ  them  in  drawing 

*  off  the  stock,    and  destroying  such  provisions  as 

*  cannot  be   brought  away,    from  those  plantations 

<  that  are  left  to  themselves.     The  rains  have  filled 
(  cur  rivers  and  swamps  so  much,  that  it  is  almost 
{ impossible  for  the  enemy  to  drag  their  cannon  and 
6  artillery  stores  along.     I  think   they  cannot  pass 
'  this  way  j  it  therefore  becomes  us  to  look  out,  and 


48 

£  expect  them  from  some  other  quarter:     I  am  told 

*  they  have  four  gallics.     I  beg   leave  to  suggest, 
<  whether  it  will  not  be  more  practicable  for  them  to 

*  transport  their  army  in  flat-bottomed  boats,  under 
«  cover  of  these  gallies,   through  Wappoo-cut,  and 
* land  them  on  the  west  of  the  town  ;   then  to  march 
1  them  round  this  way ;    or  whether  they  may  not 

*  draw  their  flat-bottomed  boats  from  Rantowle's  to 
1  Ashley-river,  drop  down,  and  land  near  our  lines  ; 

*  or  cross  at  Ashley-ferry  and  land  on  the  causeway. 

*  I  think  the  causeway  should  be   cut  across  within 
'  grapeshot  distance  of  the  field-pieces,  under  Major 
'  Hog's  command.     I  hope  we  will  have  some  heavy 
<  pieces  of  cannon  mounted  on  the  west  of  the  town, 
'  and  that  the  creeks  about  Cumins'  and  the  sugar- 
'  house  be  filled  across.     I   am  throwing  up  some 

*  works  on  a  commanding  hill  at  this  place ;   two 

*  field-pieces  will  make  it  very  strong.     We  have  a 
'  detachment   of  horse    constantly  waiting   on    the 

*  enemy,  to  observe  their  motions. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

*  Gen.  LINCOLN.  WILLIAM  MOULTRIE.' 

To  Gov.  RUT  LEDGE. 
*  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  Fcb,  22d,  1780. 
<  DEAR  SIR, 

« I  RECEIVED  your  favor  of  the  20th  inst.  and 
'  forwarded  the  inclosed  packets,   agreeably  to  your 


<  request.     Colonel  Skirving  was  here  at  the  time, 
( in  his  way  to  town,   but  is   gone  back  to  execute 

*  your  orders  :    not  one  militia-man  at  this  place  on 

<  duty  :  they  are  much  averse  to  going  to  town : 

*  they  are  apprehensive  of  the   small-pox  breaking 

*  out,    when  the  weather  grows  warmer,    and  they 

*  cooped  up  in  town,    would  be  worse  to  them  than 
(  the  enemy.     I  am  informed  they  are  doing  patrole 

<  duty  in  their  own  districts  ;   if  they  were  collected 
c  here,  I  would  employ  them  in  driving  off  the  stock, 

*  and    destroying   the    provisions  which    cannot   be 

<  brought  off.     The  continentals   and  state  cavalry, 

*  I  employ  in  waiting  on  the  enemy.     These  heavy 

*  rains  will  retard  the  enemy's  march  this  way,    as 

*  all  the  rivers  and  swamps  are  full.     I  think  we 

*  ought  to  have  a  watchful  eye  towards  Wappoo-cut. 

*  I  am  informed  they  have  four  gallies  and  a  number 

*  of  flat-bottomed  boats  ;   some  heavy  cannon  should 
'  be   mounted  on  the   west  of  the  town,    and  the 

*  creeks  about  Cumins*     stopped.      A  detachment 

*  of  our  horse  returned  last  night  from  the  enemy's 
'  lines,    but   discovered  no    movements   from   that 
5  quarter. 

1  I  am,  &c. 

<  WM.  MOULT R IE. 

<  His  Ex.  J,  RUTLEDGE.' 


so 

To  GEN.  LINCOLK. 

<  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  Feb.  23d,  1780. 
»  DEAR  SIR, 

<  I  HAV  B  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Major 
{  Maham  and  Captain  Sanders  with  a  part/  of  hprse, 
'  took  Captain  M'Donald  and  eight  privates  yester- 
'  day,  near  their  picquet ;  I  shall  send  them  down  to 

*  day.     We  are  much  in  want  of  ammunition :    the 
{  people  about  the  country  have  none. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

«  WM.  MOULTRIE. 
4  Gen.  LINCOLN.' 

FEBRUARY  23d.  The  returns  made  me  this  day  of 
the  troops  under  my  command  at  Bacon's-bridge, 
were,  cavalry  of  all  ranks  379,  and  the  infantry  under 
Colonel  Marion  227 ;  total  606.  My  being  so  strong 
in  cavalry,  kept  the  enemy  pretty  close  to  their 
lines. 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  CHARI.ESTOWN,  Feb. 24th,  1780. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

*  You  a  favor  of  yesterday,  I  have  received,  and 

*  the  prisoners. 

*  WOULD  it  not  be  best  to  divide  your  horse,  and 
<  keep  two  thirds,  or  more,  over  Stono-swamp,  near 
c  where  we  encamped  last  year,  and  in  the  neighbor- 


51 

<  hood ;    frequently  shifting  their  ground ;  and  al- 

*  ways  have  a  party  to  watch  the  enemy's  motions, 
«  to  prevent  surprise,  and  to  give  you  the  earliest  no- 

*  tice  ;  the  other  to  watch  them  at  Rantowlc's,  and 

<  look  at  them  as  far  as  Wappoo  ? 

4  I  am,  &c. 

«  B.  LINCOLN. 
<  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  Feb.  25th,  1780. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

<  I  RECEIVED  your  favor,  yesterday:  I  had  ac- 
£  quainted  Major  Jemison  that  I  would  sent  his  corps, 

*  and  Major  Call's  to  some  where  near  the  places 

*  you  mention  ;  and  where  the  most  fodder  is  to  be 
4  had :  I  should  have  removed  them  yesterday,  but 
'  took  the  2  majors,  and  a  party  with  me,  to  recon- 
'  noitre  the  enemy  on  James'  and  John's-Islands :  we 
c  proceeded  to  Wappoo-cut,  from  whence  we  had  a 

<  very  good  view  of  their  whole  encampment ;  their 

*  left  on  Stono-river,  extending  their  right,  along  the 
'  ditch,  in  Mr.  Hudson's  pasture,  to  the  end  of  the 

<  ditch,  near  Wappoo-creek,    which  I  take  to  be  a 

<  quarter  of  a  mile  :  by  the  stacks  of  arms  and  num- 

*  ber  of  men  moving  about,  I  judge  them  to  be  about 
1  1,000  or   1,200,    British  and  Hessians;  in  Stono- 

*  river,  I  saw  3  gallics  and  3   schooners,  and  some 


52 

<  small  boats,  sailing  down  the  river ;  1  galley  lay  at 
* the  mouth  of  Wappoo-cut ;  another  lay  at  Hudson's- 
« landing,  and  1  at  Fenwick's  lower  landing  :  they 
«  have  thrown  up  a  work  near  the  Cut :  I  was  in- 
«  formed  by  several  persons,  that  90  flat-bottom  boats 

«  and  canoes,  went  down   Stono,  towards  the  Cut  a 

. 
«  few  days  ago  ;    and  yesterday,  6  proceeded  down 

« the  river :  for  further  particulars,  I  refer  you  to 
*  Major  Jemison. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULT  RIE,> 


To  THE  SAME. 
«  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  Feb.  26th,   1780. 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  JUST  now  received  two  letters  from  Col.  Skir- 
'  ving,  both  of  which  I  send  you  enclosed  :  I  also 
<  send  down  the  prisoners  mentioned  in  them  :  I  al- 

*  so  wrote  to  Col.   Skirving,  to  send  his  militia,  to 
'  endeavor  to  disperse  the    disaffected  that  are   in 

*  arms  :  though  should  I  want  them  in  the  mean 

*  time,  I  shall  send  for  them.     There  are,  as  yet, 

*  no  militia*  at  this  post.     I  most  earnestly  request 
'  you  will  order  me  some  ammunition  ;  as,  not  only 

*  the  militia  want  it,  but,  that  Major  Venier  report- 


»  The  militia  refusing  to  go  to  town,  on  account  of  the 
small  pox. 


53 

<  ed  to  me   to  day,    that  he  had  not  more  than 
'  four  rounds  per  man,  for  his  corps,  &c. 
<  I  am,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  HEAD-QUARTERS,  CHARLESTOWN,  Feb.  28th,  1780. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

«  I  WAS  last  night  favored  with  your  letter  of 

*  the  26th  instant,  inclosing  two  from  Col.  Skirving  ; 

*  a  representation   has  this  morning  been  made  on 

*  the  subject,  to  the   governor  :    I  shall  order  some 

*  ammunition  to  be  sent  you  :   the  enemy  are  open- 

*  ing  the   ground  near  Fort  Johnson  :  I  expect  our 
'  ship  will  disturb  them  before  night. 

*  I  am,  Sec. 

'  B.  LINCOLN. 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  COL.  D.  HORRY. 

'  CAMP,  NEAR  ASHLEY-FERRY,  Feb.  28th,   1780. 

*  DEAR  GENERAL, 

4 1  AM  just  returned  from  Lucas'  old  field,  and 

*  Wappoo-cut  ;  and  with  a  small  party,  I  went  over 

*  to  a  point   called  Long-Island  :  the  galley  is  at  her 

*  old   station,  and  about  twenty-four  or  five  at  Mr. 

*  Hudson's-landing,  with  four  armed  schooners,    and 

*  two  other  schooners,  with  a  number  of  armed  boats 

VOL.  H.  H 


54 

<  are  now  gone  up  to  Stono  ;  probably  with  an  intention 
'  to  bring  off  the  baggage  from  that  post ;  which  we 

*  are   told  now  consists  of  a  command  ;  with   600 
'  men  to  guard  their  provisions  and  boats.      The 
'  party  we  saw  to-day,  must  consist  of  about  200  men 
4  including  the  galley's  crew  ;  and  from  every  intelli- 
«  gence  we  can  obtain,  the  enemy  will  soon  make  a 

*  point  of  collecting  at  Fort  Johnson  ;  where  they 
«  are  now  busily  employed  erecting  some  works. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

«  D.  HORRY. 
4  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  MAJOR  CALL. 

«  STONO,  Feb.  29th,  1780. 

'SlR, 

1  NONE  of  the  enemy  have  been  out  since  Sun- 

*  day  ;  when  a  pretty  strong  party  advanced  as  far  as 
»  Culp's-house,  but  returned,  before  the  detachment 
'  of  horse  got  down  i  I  had  all   the   country   recon- 
4  noitered  yesterday,  between  Ponpon-road  and  Mrs. 
'  Thomas'  plantation,  and  not  a  man  was  to  be  aeen. 
'  The  officer  who   went  down  the  Ponpon-road,  re- 
'  ports  that  their  drums  beat,    and  horns  sounded 
'  about   8  o'clock,     where   the  picquet  was  usually 
'  kept ;  after  waiting  some   time,    in  expectation  of 

*  their  coming  out,    he    moved   up  the   Will-town 

*  road,  found  the  guard  drawn  in,  and  the  log-bridge 


55 

•;  torn  up,  which  stopped  his  farther  progress.     The 
1  inhabitants  seem  to  think  they  are  gone,  or  about 

*  to  leave  Stono-ferry  :  several  schooners  were  passT 

<  ing  to  and  fro  yesterday  from  that  place,  to  New- 
'  cut ;  which  in  some  measure   strengthens  the  ac- 
'  counts  of  the  inhabitants  :  though  those   I  saw  had 
f  got  too  far  to  discover  what  number  of  men  they 
'  contained.     I  have  sent  a  party  this  morning,  to 

*  get  some  certain   intelligence,  if  possible,  of  their 
'  disposition,  &c. 

<  I  am,  &c. 

f  RICHARD  CALL. 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  GEM.  LINCOLN. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  Feb.  29th,   1780. 
*>  DEAR  SIR, 

'  YOUR   favor  I  have  received,    and  am  much 
'  surprised  to  "find  the  militia  so  unreasonable  as  to 

<  wish  to  avoid  this  town  :  are  not  the  North-Caroli- 
'  nians  here,  who  have  not  had  the  small-pox  ?  have 
'  they  views  and  interests  to  support  that  the  inhabi- 
4  tants  of  this  state  have  not?  surely  no!  the  safety 
4  of  the  town  depends  upon  their  coming  to  its  assist- 
'  ance  ;  and  I  cannot  give  them  the  least  encour- 

<  agement  to  hope  that  they  will  not  be    brought 

*  down  :  they  must  be  brought  down  ;  they   ought 
1  to  have  been  here  before  now,  for  they  have  nothr 


56 

<  ing  to  apprehend  from  the   small-pox  :  there  has 
4  been  this    day,  the   strictest  inquiry,  by   the  com- 

*  missioners  of  the   town  ;  the   surgeons  of  the  hos- 
1  pitals,  and  the  officers  of  the  army  ;  and  they  re- 
«  port  to  me  that  it  is  not  in   this  place.     Our  garri- 

*  son  is  at  present  so  vreak,  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to 

*  send  for  the  light  troops  the  moment  that   you 
»  have  a  hundred  or  two  of  the  militia  join  you. 

'  I  am,  &c. 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.  B.  LINCOLN.* 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
1  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  March  1st,   1780. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

'I   THIS  moment    received    intelligence  from 

*  Major  Vernier  that  all  the  enemy   have  crossed 
'  Wappoo  j  and  are  approaching  this  way  ;  our  horse 
'  are  retreating  towards  us  :  should  the  intention  of 

*  the  enemy  be  for  this  post,  I  shall?  on  their  com- 

<  ing  near,  have  the  bridge  destroyed,  and  make  a 

*  stand,  as  long  as   the  force  I  have  will  permit : 
«  having  been   confined  to  my  bed,  ever  since  last 
'  Tuesday,  1  shall  be  obliged  to  leave  the  command 

<  to  Col.  D.  Horry.     In  case  of  a  retreat,  I  shall  be 

*  glad  to  know  whether  you  would  have  the  light 

*  troops  come  to  town,    or  remain  in  the  country 

*  with  the  horse.         By  order, 

«  PHILIP  NETLE,   A.  D.  C.' 


57 

To  THE  SAME. 

<  BACON'S-BRIDGE,  March  7th,    1780. 
«  DEAR  SIR, 

4  BY  accounts  received  from  Major  Vernier  and 

*  a  prisoner  taken  this  morning,  the  enemy  crossed 

<  Wappoo  last  night  at  8  o'clock,  .with    1,000  grena- 

*  diers  and  light-infantry  :  the  last  accounts  we  had 
«  of  them,  they  were  about  3  miles  from  Ashley-fer- 

*  ry  ;  we  cannot  learn  what  their  intentions  were? 
1  unless  they  designed  to  surprise  Major  Vernier's 

*  post.  By  order, 

«  PHILIP  NEYLE,     A.  D.C.* 

FROM  THE  SAME. 

<  CHARLESTOWN,  March,  1780. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

*  I  AM  happy  to  hear  that  you  are  better,  and 

<  that  probably  you  will  soon  be  on  your  legs  ;  in  or- 

*  der  to  hasten  that,  I  have  sent  Gen.  Kuger  to  Ea- 
1  con's-bridge,  to  take  all  care  from  you ;  as  soon  as 
1  you  are  able,  you  had  better  come  to  town. 

*  I  am,  Sec. 

<  Gen.  MOULTRIE.  B.  LINCOLN.' 

ON  the  9th  of  March  I  left  the  command  at  Ba- 
con's-bridge,  to  Gen.  Huger,  and  came  to  Charles- 
town,  where  I  was  confined  to  the  house  for  several 
days,  owing  to  my  weakness  from  my  late  illness. 


58 

EXTRACTS  OF  LETTERS  TO  A  PARTICULAR 
FRIEND  IN  THE  COUNTRY. 

{  CHARLESTOWN,  March  19th,   17SO. 

<  TH«   enemy  are  at   Fenwick's  place,  at  the 

'  mouth  of  Wappoo-creek,    making    batteries    and 

4  other  works  directly  opposite  the  town  :  their  ship- 

'  ping  lay  off  our  bar  ;  and  perhaps,  may  attempt  to 

*  get  in,  to-morrow  or  next  day  :  if  they  remain  on 

*  our  coast,  much  longer,  they  may  be  surprised  by 
'  a  Spanish  fleet  :*  we  are  all  in  high  spirits  :  the 
4  Virginia  troops  are  expected  in  a  few  days. 

'  Yours,  8cc. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  March  20th,   1780. 
'  THIS  morning  the  enemy's  ships  (7  of  them) 

*  got  over  our  Bar ;  and  are  now  in   Five-fathom- 

*  hole  :  perhaps  they  may  begin  their  attack  to-mor- 
'  row  :  I  hope  we  shall  give  a  good  account  of  them  : 
'  the  enemy  still  remain  at  Wappoo  ;  we  hear  they 
'  are  to  march  to  day,  this  way. 

*  Yours,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 


»  Col.  Ternant  was  sent  to  the  Havannah,  to  endeavor  to 
get  the  assistance  of  a  fleet  *nd  army,  but  could  not  succeed, 
because  they  did  not  think  he  was  authorized  by  the  governor . 


59 

To  THE  SAME. 

«  March  21st,  1780. 

'THE  enemy  have  got  in  ten  of  their  men  of  war,* 
4  one  of  fifty  guns,  two  of  forty-four  guns,  and  seven 
'  frigates  and  twenty  gun  ships.  We  expect  in  a 

*  day  or  two,  to  see  some  smart  firing  between  them 
1  and  our  vessels  and  Fort  Moultrie :  we  have  sevent 
<  ships  and  three  gallies  to  oppose  them,  if  they  will 
'  lay  any  time  before  the  fort,  I  will  engage  we  beatf 
'  them  ;  but  it  is  generally  thought  they  will  pass  as 
4  fast  as  they  can,  and  endeavor  to  take  their  stations 
1  above  the  town,  in  Cooper  or  Ashley  rivers,  where 

*  they  will  incommode  us  a  little  at  our  lines  ;   but 

*  we  are  erecting  batteries  to  keep  them  clear  of  us, 

*  which  I  hope  will  answer  the  purpose.     I  suppose 

*  we  shall  have  their  army  soon  on  the  neck,   to 
«  blockade  us  ;  when  that  happens,  you  will  hear  but 
{  seldom  from 

<  Your's 

*  WM.  MOUITRIE.* 


*  Three  of  them  store  ships. 

t  The  Bricele  of  forty  guns,  the  Providence  and  Boston 
frigates,  each  thirty -two  guns,  the  Queen  of  France  twenty-eight, 
L'Avanture  and  the  Fruite,  each  twenty-six  guus,  brig  General 
Lincoln  twenty  guns,  and  three  gallies. 

+  General  Pinckney  was  commanding  officer  of  the  fcrt  at 
that  time. 


60 

To  THE  SAME. 

«  March  22d,  1780. 
«  I  WROTE  you  yesterday;   since   which,   we  have 

*  altered  out-  plan  greatly  ;   all  our  ships   and  gallies 
«  are  ordered  up  to  town,    and  their  guns  taken  out 
'  and  placed  in   the   batteries,    and  manned   by  the 

*  sailors,  by  which  means  we  have   a  reinforcement 

*  on  shore,  of  1,200  men,  which  adds  greatly  to  our 
'  strength.     We  are  to  sink  some  ships,    to  stop  the 

channel  from  the  exchange  over  to  the  marsh,  on 

*  the  other  side.     The  Virginia  line,  is  expected  in 
4  three  or  four  days. 

1  THE  reasons  for  altering  the  plan  fixed  upon  to 

dispose  of  our  fleet,  was,  that  Commodore  Whipple 

4  did  not  choose  to  risk  an  engagement   with  the 

*  British  fleet.     I  think  he  was  right  in  the  first  in- 

*  stance,   when  stationed  just  within  the  bar  to  pre- 
4  vent  the  British    fleet  from  coming  over,   as  that 

*  was   a  dangerous  place,   but    his   second  position* 

*  when  he  was  to  lay  a  little  above  Fort  Moultrio 

*  within  point  blank  shot  of  the   fort,   with  his  ships 

*  across,  to  rake  the   channel :    in   that  situation  it 
4  would  have  been  impossible  for  them  to  pass  with- 
4  out  losing  some  of  their    ships  ;    I  scarcely  think 
4  they  would  have  attempted  it.    The  fleet  was  of  little 
'  service  to  the  besiegers  in   blocking  up  our  port,  as 

*  all  the  reinforcements  that  we  got,  or  could  expect  to 
'  have,  came  in  by  land:  it  is  true,  Admiral  Arbuthnot 


«  had  the  honor  of  having  Fort  Moultrie  tamely  given 

*  up  to  him,  without  firing  a  single  gun,  after  Colonel 

<  Pinckney,*  was   withdrawn   from  that  command. 

*  After  the  British  fleet  had  passed  Fort  Moultrie,  it 

*  was  no  longer  of  use  to  us,  but  rather  a  dead  weight. 

<  We  fired  at  them  yesterday,  which  obliged  them  to 
'  move   a  little ;    two  of  their  boats  were  sounding 
{  Ashley-river,  but  we  soon  made  them  retire.     The 
'  fleet  still  lays  in  Five-fathom-hole.    We  can  manage 
c  them  easy  enough.     We  are  sinking  some  vessels 

*  across  the  river,  from  the  Exchange  to  the  marsh 

*  opposite,  which  I  think  will  stop  the  channel.  We 

*  expect  the  Virginians  every  day.    Yours,  &c. 

<  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

'  March,  26th,  1780. 

<  THE  enemy  are  advancing  slow;  the  head  of 
« their  army  is  about  John  Cattel's,  but  I  imagine 
«  they  intend  crossing  over  to  Gibbs'  place  with 
'  their  main  body  ;  they  are  busily  employed  on  the 
«  opposite  shore,  in  making  fascines  and  other  things  ; 
1  I  suppose  it  will  be  a  day  or  two  yet,  before  they 
1  appear  before  our  lines  :  they  have  three  gallies  at 

*  the  mouth  of  Wappoo-creek,  quite  open  to  us. 

*  Yours,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULTRIS.* 


*   Now  General  Pinckney. 
VOL.  nt  i 


62 

To  THE  SAME. 

«  April  3d,  1780. 

'  THE  enemy  are  now  before  our  lines,*  and 
c  throwing  up  works  very  fast;  they  have  four  redoubts 
4  abreast  finished ;  one  at  the  broad  road  at  Watson's, 

*  one  at  Hamstead,  where  St.  Edmond  Head's  house 
«  stood,   and  one  between  those  two,  another  they 

*  have  on  our  left,  near  Cumin 's-point  ;  I  suppose,  to- 
'  night  they  will  have   one,   where   Tagart's   house 

*  stood.      We  began   to  cannonade  them  yesterday, 
<  and  shall  continue  every  day ;    their  batteries  are 

*  not  yet  opened,    but  I  suppose  to-morrow  or  next 
«  day,    they  will  begin  ;    then    you  will  hear  a  great 

*  deal  of  noibe,    but  there  is  very  little  danger  from 
1  this  sort  of  fighting.     I  hope  the  obstructions  laid 

*  across  our  river  before  the  Exchange,   will  deter 

*  their  shipping  from  coming  up.     We  have  estab- 

*  lished  an  hospital  at  Cainhoy   meeting-house,    for 
'  all  those  who  are  not  able  to  do  duty,    to  repair  to. 

*  I  forgot  to  mention  to  you,    that  the  women  walk 
«  out  from  town  to  the  lines,    with  all  the  composure 

*  imaginable,  to  see  us  cannonade  the  enemy,  but  I 
«  fancy    when    the    enemy    begin,    they    will    make 

*  themselves    pretty    scarce.     We    had    a    skirmish 
4  with  the  enemy,    on  their  approach  to  our  lines. 


*    They  crossed  Ashley-river,  in  force,  above  the  ferry  and 
at  Gibbs'  within  a  mile  or  two  oi  the  town. 


63 

i  Colonel   Laurens   commanded   a   corps    of   light 
'  troops,  and  fought  them  two  or  three  hours,  several 

*  were  killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides,  and  he  was 

<  obliged  to  retire  within   the  lines.     Major  Hyrne 

*  was  wounded  in  this  skirmish. 

*  Your's,  &c. 

1  WM.  MOULT  R  IE.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

<  April  7th,  2  o'clock,  P.  M. 

<THE  Virginians  are  now  landing  at   Gadsden's- 

4  wharf;    we  intend  as  soon  as  they  land  and  march 

«  up,   to  fire  thirteen  guns,  man  the  lines,  and  give 

'  three  cheers. 

<  Your's,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE. 

To  THE  SAME. 

«  April  8th,  1780. 

'  No  doubt  you  have  heard  the  firing  yesterday* 
1  it  was  the  British  men-of-war  pas  sing  Fort  Moultrie 

<  they  are  now  lying  by  Fort  Johnson  ;    the  fort  has 
1  damaged  them  a  little,    and  obliged  them  to  burn 

*  one  that  got  on  shore  ;   we   cannot  tell  whether  it 

*  is  a  man-of-war,   or  a  store-ship,*  but  we  see  the 
4  people  from  the  fort  are  very  busy  in  picking  up 
'  their  plunder.     We  have   not   yet  heard  from  the 

*  Slic  was  a  store  ship. 


64, 

1  fort,  but  I  dare  say  they  have  little  or  no  damage 
f  done  them,  and  perhaps  not  a  man  killed.  I  sup- 
1  pose  in  a  few  days  they  will  attempt  to  pass  the 
'  town,  then  you  must  expect  to  hear  a  very  great 

*  firing  indeed,  but  we  shall  be  pretty  secure  in  our 
1  batteries.     They  have  nine  laying  near  us,  but  not 
c  more  than  seven  men-of-war.     Your's,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULT R IE.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

'  April  27th,  1780. 
<  WE  are  now  closely  blocked  up,  and  only  expect 

*  to  be  relieved  by   our   friends.     I    have   lost  my 

*  brave   and  worthy  aid,    Philip  Neyle,*   killed  by  a 
1  cannon  ball  on  the  18th  inst.  which  took  away  a 

*  part  of  his  head,   since  which,   my  poor  brother 

*  Tom  was  killed  on  his  return  into  our  lines  ;    they 

<  went  out  to  sally  into  the  enemy's  entrenchments; 

*  they  brought  in  twelve  prisoners,   and   bayoneted 
«  fifteen  or  twenty  more  ;    my  brother  was  the  only 

*  man  killed,  and  two  wounded,  in  this  sortie,  of  300 

*  men.    We  two  days  ago  had  Colonel  Parker  killed, 

<  or  else  very  little  damage  has  yet  happened  ;    not 
«  above  ten  killed  and  forty  wounded,  notwithstanding 

<  the  great  number  of  cannon  balls  and  shells  that 
4  are  thrown  into  the  town. 

«  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 


The  only  child  of  a  crippled  and  aged  father. 


65 

EVENING  ORDERS  BY  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

March  26th. 

*  As  General  Moultrie  is  to  direct  the  disposition 
'  of  the  artillery  of  the  different  batteries  and  works 
«  in  and  about  the  town,  all  orders  relative  thereto, 
*  issued  by  him,  are  to  be  obeyed.' 

A  JOURNAL  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF 
CHARLESTOWN. 

Tuesday,  March  28th,   1780. 

THE  enemy  crossed  Ashley-river,  in  force,  above 
the  ferry. 

Wednesday,   29th. 

THE  enemy   advanced  on  the  neck.     The  light- 
infantry  were  this  evening  reinforced  with  two  com- 
panies, and  the  command  given  to  Colonel  Laurens. 
Thursday,  30th. 

THE  enemy  came  on,  as  far  as  Gibbs',  where  they 
continued  skirmishing  throughout  the  day,  with  our 
light-infantry :  the  enemy  were  reinforced  in  the 
evening,  with  two  field-pieces,  and  ninety  men,  which 
obliged  our  party  to  retire  into  garrison  about  dark. 
Capt.  Bowman  of  the  North-Carolina  brigade  killed  ; 
Major  Hyrne,  and  seven  privates  wounded.  The 
enemy  were  all  this  day  transporting  troops  from 
Old-town,  on  Wappoo-neck,  to  Gibbs'. 


66 

Friday,  31st. 

THE  garrison  employed  in  mounting  cannon ; 
throwing  traverses,  &c. 

Saturday,  April  1st. 

NOTHING  material :  the  troops  employed  as  yes- 
terday. 

Sunday,  2d. 

LAST  night  the  enemy  broke  ground,  and  this 
morning,  appeared  two  redoubts  ;  one  nearly  oppo- 
site the  nine  gun  battery,  on  the  right  of  the  horn- 
work  ;  and  the  other,  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  same, 
at  about  twelve  hundred  yards  distance  from  our 
lines. 

Monday,  3d. 

THE  enemy  employed  in  completing  their  two  re- 
doubts, and  erecting  one  on  our  left,  at  an  equal 
distance  from  the  rest. 

Tuesday,  4th. 

SEVERAL  deserters  within  these  three  or  four  days, 
who  say  the  enemy  on  Thursday  last  had  upwards 
of  twenty  men  killed  and  wounded ;  among  the  lat- 
ter, a  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  60th  regiment ;  Lord 
St.  Clair  badly  ;  and  that  they  are  bringing  their 
cannon  on  the  neck  :  since  the  appearance  of  the 
enemy's  works,  they  have  been  cannonaded  :  two 
ten  inch  and  one  seven  inch  mortars  were  removed 
from  the  Bay,  and  employed  in  retarding  them.  The 


er 

enemy  all  this  day   employed  in  finishing  their  re- 
doubts, and  throwing  up  a  line  of  communication. 
Wednesday,  5th. 

LAST  night  the  enemy  continued  their  approaches 
to  Hamstead-hill,  on  which  they  erected  a  battery 
for  twelve  cannon  ;  and  a  mortar  battery  a  little  in 
the  rear.  The  cannon  and  mortars  employed  as 
usual,  in  annoying  their  works  :  the  battery  from 
Wappoo,  and  the  gallies,  have  thrown  several  shot 
into  town ;  by  which,  one  of  the  inhabitants  in  King- 
street,  was  killed. 

Thursday,  6th. 

THE  enemy  approached  from  their  centre  redoubt 
and  erected  a  five  gun  battery  on  the  angle,  between 
batteries  No.  11  and  12.  The  Virginians,*  under  Bri- 
gadier General  Woodford,  got  in  by  the  way  of  Addi- 
son's-ferry  ;  and  some  North-Carolina  militia  under 
Colonel  Harrington. 

Friday,  7th. 

THIS  afternoon  twelve  sail  of  the  enemy's  vessels, 
passed  Fort  Moultrie,  under  a  very  heavy  fire  ;  one 
of  them,  supposed  to  be  a  store  ship...having  met 
with  some  accident,  ran  aground  in  the  cove,  where 
she  was  blown  up  by  her  own  people  :  the  remain- 
der were  ten  square  rigged  vessels  ;  viz.  one  fifty  and 


*  About  seven-hundred. 


6S 

tvro  forty-four  gun  ships  ;  four  frigates  ;  two  ships, 
supposed  to  be  store  ships  ;  a  schooner  and  sloop 
anchored  under  Fort  Johnson. 

Saturday,  8th. 

THE  enemy  employed  in  finishing  their  batteries 
on  the  right. 

Sunday,  9th. 

THE  enemy  last  night  continued  their  approaches 
from  their  redoubt  on  the  left,  and  threw  up  a  bat- 
tery for  ten  cannon,  against  the  angle  of  our  advanced 
redoubt,  and  the  redan  No.  7.  Some  shot  were 
thrown  at  the  shipping,  by  our  batteries  in  town,  but 
•without  effect. 

Monday,   10th. 

SIR  Henry  Clinton,  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot  sum- 
moned the  town. 

SUMMONS  TO  MAJ.  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

<  April  I Oth,  1780. 

*  SIR  Henry  Clinton,  K.  B.  general  and  commander 
in  chief  of  his  majesty's  forces,  laying  on  the  Atlantic, 
from  Nova-Scotia,  &c.  Ecc.  Sec.  and  Vice-Admiral 
Arbuthnot,  commander  in  chief  of  his  majesty's 
ships  in  North -America,  8cc.  &c.  Sec.  regretting  the 
effusion  of  blood,  and  consonant  to  humanity  towards 
the  town  and  garrison  of  Charlestown,  of  the  havock 
and  desolation  with  which  they  are  threatened  from 
the  formidable  force  surrounding  them  by  land  and 
sea.  An  alternative  is  offered  at  this  hour  to  the 


69 

inhabitants,  of  saving  their  lives  and  property  con- 
tained in  the  town,  or  of  abiding  by  the  fatal  conse- 
quences of  a  cannonade  and  storm. 

'  SHOULD  the  place  in  a  fallacious  security,  or  its 
commander  in  a  wanton  indifference  to  the  fate  of  its 
inhabitants,  delay  the  surrender,  or  should  public 
stores  or  shipping  be  destroyed,  the  resentment  of  an 
exasperated  soldiery  may  iniervene  ;  but  the  same 
inild  and  compassionate  offer  can  never  be  renewed. 
The  respective  commanders,  who  hereby  summons 
the  town,  do  not  apprehend  so  rash  a  part,  as  further 
resistance  will  be  taken,  but  rather  that  the  gates 
will  be  opened,  and  themselves  received  with  a  de- 
gree of  confidence  which  will  forebode  further  recon. 
ciliationo 

4  HENRY  CLINTON* 
*  M.  ARBUTHNOI.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
'  HEAD-QUARTERS,  CHARLESTOWN, 
•  April  10th,  1780. 

*  GENTLEMEN, 

<  I    HAVE   received   your  summons  of  "this  date ; 
«  sixty  days  have  passed  since  it  has  been  known  that 

*  your  intentions  against  this  town  were  hostile ;    in 
«  which,   time  has  been  offered  to  abandon  it  j   but 

VOL.  II.  K 


re 

*  duty  and  inclination  point  to  the  propriety  of  sup- 

*  porting  it  to  the  last  extremity. 

'  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

1  Your  Excellency's  humble  servant. 

«B.  LINCOLN.' 

Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  llth   and  12th. 
THE  enemy  busied  in  completing  their  works  and 
mounting  their  cannon. 

Thursday,  13th. 

BETWEEN  9  and  10  o'clock  this  morning,  the 
enemy  opened  their  cannon  and  mortar  batteries. 
The  cannonade  and  bombardment  continued,  with 
short  intermissions,  until  midnight :  the  gallies  and 
battery  at  Wappoo  also  fired.  An  embrazure  at  re- 
dan No.  7  destroyed  ;  a  sergeant  and  private  of  the 
North- Carolina  brigade  killed  ;  a  twenty-six  pounder 
destroyed,  and  one  eighteen  pounder  dismounted,  in 
the  flanking  battery,  on  the  right :  some  women  and 
children  killed  in  town.  The  enemy's  cannon  were 
chiefly  twenty-four  pounders  ;  and  their  mortars  from 
five  and  an  half,  to  ten  inches  :  they  threw  several 
carcasses  from  eight  and  ten  inch  mortars,  by  which 
two  houses  were  burnt. 

Friday,   14th. 

THE  enemy  began  an  approach  on  the  right,  and 
kept  up  a  fire  of  small  arms.  Cannonade  and  bom- 
bard continued.  One  sergeant  of  the  North-Caro- 
linians killed  by  a  cannon  ball:  one  of  the  militia 


71 

artillery  killed,  and  one  wounded  :  two  matrosses  of 
the  South-Carolina  artillery  killed. 
Saturday,  15th. 

THE  enemy  continued  approaching  on  the  right: 
the  mortars  ordered  to  the  right,  and  commence  a 
firing  immediately,  to  annoy  them.  A  continual 
fire  of  small  arms,  cannon,  and  mortars.  A  battery 
of  two  guns,  opened  by  the  enemy  at  Stiles'  place, 
on  James-Island.  Major  Grimball's  corps  of  militia, 
relieved  from  the  advance  redoubt,  by  a  detach- 
ment of  continental  artillery,  commanded  by  Major 
Mitchell. 

Sunday,  16th. 

IT  is  said  the  enemy  attempted  to  land  at  Hobcaw- 
neck  with  two  gun  boats,  but  were  prevented  by 
Col.  Malmadie.  Two  18  pounders,  a  quantity  of 
provisions,  and  other  valuable  articles  got  out  of  the 
wreck  of  the  vessel  near  Fort  Moultrie. 
Monday,  17th. 

A  MAN,  inhabitant  of  the  town,  killed  by  a  cannon 
ball,  and  a  woman  wounded  ;  both  from  Wappoo 
battery. 

Tuesday,  18th. 

THE  enemy  continued  a  warm  firing  from  their 
cannon,  mortars,  and  small  arms.  Mr.  Neyle,  aid- 
de-camp  to  Gen.  Moultrie,  killed  by  a  cannon  ball. 
We  advanced  a  breast-work  to  the  left  of  the  square 
redoubt,  for  riflemen,  to  annoy  the  enemy  on  their 


72 

approach.  Five  men  killed  by  small  arms;  and 
thrte  wounded  by  a  shell :  a  sentinel  at  the  abbattis 
had  his  arm  shot  off  by  one  of  our  own  cannon  : 
a  twelve  pounder*  bursted  in  the  horn-work,  by  which 
two  men  were  much  hurt.  The  enemy  ceased 
throwing  large  shells.  We  hear  that  our  cavalry 
under  General  Huger,  have  been  defeated  t;  and  that 
we  lost  between  20  or  30  killed  and  wounded  ;  among 
the  former  was  Major  Vernier  of  Paulaski's  legion. 
General  Scott  with  the  light-infantry  crossed  Coo- 
per-river, into  town ;  about  40  Virginians  got  in 
last  night.  The  enemy  continued  their  approaches 
to  the  right,  within  250  yards  of  the  front  of  the 
square  redoubt :  they  threw  during  the  night  a  great 
number  of  shells  from  sixteen  royals  and  Cohorns, 
chiefly  in  the  North-Carolina  camp  :  one  man  killed, 
and  two  wounded. 

Wednesday,   19th. 

THE  enemy  began  an  approach  from  the  left  bat- 
tery,   towards  our  advanced  redoubt ;    and   moved 


*  Thi?  was  onr  of  the  guns  belonging  t<  thr  Artcon  frigate, 
that  got  on  shore  while  engaged  with  bort  Mouitnc,  in  1776, 
and  was  burnt.  It  is  remarkable  tliat  eiglit  or  ten  of  those 
guns  which  >vc  weighed,  andmrurtcd  on  our  lines,  were 
ev  ry  one  of  them  b:ii  steel,  alter  two  or  three  rounds:  which 
makes  me  suppose  that  tlicir  being  heated  by  the  fire  ot  the  sb  p, 
and  suddenly  p'unqiug  into  the  water  while  n-d-hot,  destroyed 
their  iTict?lli(  p>rts,  and  left  »nly  the  dioss  behind. 

t  This  was  a  shameful  surprise,  at  Monk's-corner,  in  the 
open  day. 


73 

some  mortars  into  the  former :  they  also  advanced 
on  Hobcaw-neck,  and  exchanged  a  few  shot  with 
our  advance  party.  Two  or  three  persons  killed  in 
town. 

Thursday,  20th. 

THE  approaches  continued  on  the  left;  their  mor- 
tars removed  from  their  left  battery,  into  their 
approaches ;  an  eighteen  pounder  dismounted  at 
Captain  Bottard's  battery  on  the  right;  four  of  their 
gallies  after  dark,  moved  from  Wappoo-creek  to  the 
shipping  at  Fort  Johnson,  under  a  very  heavy  fire  from 
our  batteries.  The  enemy  retreated  from  Hobcaw 
across  Wappataw-bridge,  which  it  is  said  they  have 
burnt.  Two  magazines  in  the  batteries  commanded 
by  Capt.  Sisk,  blew  up  by  shells,  but  no  persons  hurt. 
Friday,  21st. 

A  flag  sent  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 

4  CHARLESTOWN,  April  21st,  1760. 

*  SIR, 

*  I  AM  willing  to  enter  into  the  consideration  of 
<  terms  of  capitulation,  if  such  can  be  obtained  as 
1  are  honorable  to  the  army,  and  safe  for  the  inhabit- 

*  ants.     I  have  to  propose  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
'  for  six  hours,    for  the  purpose  of  digesting  such 
'  articles.  '  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

'  Your  Excellency's,  8cc. 

'  B. 
c  His  Ex.  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON.' 


FROM  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 

*  CAMP  BEFORE  CHARLESTOWN,  April  21st,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

'ADMIRAL  Arbuthnot,  who  commands  the  fleet, 
'  should  have  been  addressed  jointly  with  me  on 
'  this  occasion.  As  I  wish  to  communicate  with  him, 

*  and  as  I  give  my  consent  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
'  for  six  hours,  I  desire  an  aid-de-camp*  may  pass 
« to  the  ships,  with  a  letter,  and  my  request,  that  the 

*  battery  on  James'-Island  may  desist  firing. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sec. 

'  H.  CLINTON.' 

*  Maj.  Gen.  LINCOLN.' 

ARTICLES  OF  CAPITULATION  PROPOSED 
BY  MAJOR  GENERAL  LINCOLN. 

'CHARLESTOWN,  April  21st,  1780. 

ARTICLE  1.  That  all  acts  of  hostilities  and  works 
shall  cease  between  the  naval  and  land  forces  of 
Great-Britain  and  America,  in  this  state,  until  the 
articles  of  capitulation  shall  be  agreed  on,  signed,  or 
collectively  rejected. 

ART.  2.  That  the  town,  forts  and  fortifications 
belonging  to  them>  shall  be  surrendered  to  the  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  British  forces,  such  as  they 
now  stand. 


*  The  aid  was  permitted  to  pass  to  the  ships,  from  Gibbs', 
round  Ashley-river,  to  the  vessels  near  Fort  Johnson. 


75 

ART.  3.  That  the  several  troops  garrisoning  this 
town  and  forts,  including  the  French  and  American 
sailors,  the  French  invalids,  the  North-Carolina  and 
South-Carolina  militia,  and  such  of  the  Charlestown 
militia  as  may  choose  to  leave  this  place,  shall  have 
thirty-six  hours  to  withdraw  to  Lamprier's,  after  the 
capitulation  be  accepted  and  signed  on  both  sides; 
and  that  those  troops  shall  retire  with  the  usual 
honors  of  war,  and  carry  off  at  that  time  their  arms, 
field-artillery,  ammunition  and  baggage,  and  such  of 
their  stores  as  they  may  be  able  to  transport. 

ART.  4.  That  after  the  expiration  of  the  thirty- 
six  hours  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article,  the 
British  troops  before  the  town  shall  take  possession 
of  it,  and  those  now  at  Wappataw  shall  proceed  to 
Fort  Moultrie. 

ART.  5.  That  the  American  army  thus  collected 
at  Lamprier's,  shall  have  ten  days,  from  the  expira- 
tion of  the  thirty-six  hours  before  mentioned,  to 
march  wherever  General  Lincoln  may  think  pro- 
per, to  the  eastward  of  Cooper's-river,  without  any 
movement  being  made  by  the  British  troops,  or 
part  of  them,  out  of  the  town  or  Fort  Moultrie. 

ART.  6.  That  the  sick  and  wounded  of  the  Amer- 
ican and  French  hospitals,  with  their  medicines, 
stores,  the  surgeons  and  director-general,  shall  re- 
main in  the  town,  and  be  supplied  with  the  neces- 


76 

safies  requisite,  until  provisions  shall  be  made  for 
their  removal,  which  will  be  as  speedily  as  possible. 

ART.  7.  That  no  soldier  shall  be  encouraged  to 
desert,  or  permitted  to  inlist  on  either  side. 

ART.  8.  That  the  French  consul,  his  house,  pa. 
pers  and  other  moveable  property,  shall  be  protected 
and  remain  untouched. 

AKT.  9.  The  continental  ships  of  war,  Provi- 
dence, Boston,  and  Ranger,  now  in  this  harbor, 
with  the  French  ship  of  war,  the  Adventure,  shall 
have  liberty  to  proceed  to  sea,  with  the  necessary 
stores  on  board,  and  go  unmolested,  the  three  former 
to  Philadelphia  and  the  latter  to  Cape  Francois,  with 
the  French  invalids  mentioned  in  article  three. 

ART.  10.  That  the  citizens  shall  be  protected  in 
their  persons  and  property. 

ART.  11.  That  twelve  months  be  allowed  to 
those  who  do  not  choose  to  live  under  the  British 
government,  to  dispose  of  their  effects,  real  and 
personal,  in  the  state,  without  any  molestation  what- 
ever, and  remove  such  parts  thereof,  as  they 
choose,  with  themselves  and  families;  and  during 
that  time,  they,  or  any  of  them,  may  have  in  their 
option  to  reside  occasionally  in  town  or  country. 

ART.  12.  That  the  same  protection  to  their 
persons  and  property,  and  the  same  time  for  the 
removal  of  their  effects  be  given  to  the  subjects  of 
France  and  Spain,  residing  amongst  us,  as  are  re- 


77 

quired  for  the  citizens  residing  amongst  us  in  the 
preceding  article. 

<  B.  LINCOLN.' 

SIR  HENRY  CLINTON  AND  VICE-ADMIRAL  ARBUTH- 

NOT  TO  MAJOR  GENERAL  LINCOLN. 
<CAMP  BEFORE  CHARLESTOWN,  April  2 1st,  1780. 

*  SIR,  8  o'clock  at  night. 

{  WE  have  in  answer  to  your  third  article  (for  we 

*  cannot  proceed  further)  to  refer  you  to  our  former 

*  offer,  as  terms,    which,  although  you  cannot  claim, 
'  yet  we  consent  to  grant.     These  however,  must  be 
'  accepted  immediately,  and  responsible  hostages,  of 

*  the  rank  of  field-officers,   must  be  sent  us  as  secu- 
1  rities,  that  the  custom  of  war  in  these  cases  must 
{  be  strictly  adhered  to,  that  no  person  of  the  garrison 

*  or  inhabitant  be   permitted  to  go  out,   nothing  be 
'  removed  or  destroyed,    and  no  ships  or  vessels  pass 
4  from  the  town.     All  dependant  posts  are   to  be  in- 
'  eluded  in  the  surrender,  and  the  hostages  to  be  as  an- 
'  swerable  for  these  as  the  town.    Your  answer  is  ex- 
'  pected  at  ten  o'clock,  at  which  hour,  hostilities  will 
'  commence  again,    unless  our  offers  are  closed  with. 

'  H.  CLINTON. 
(  Maj.  Gen.  LINCOLN.'  <  M.  ARBUTHNOT.' 

ON  the  summons  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  Ad- 
miral Arbuthnot,  General  Lincoln  called  a  council 
of  war,  of  field-officers,  on  the  propriety  of  evacu- 

VOL.  u,  i. 


ating  the  town.  They  were  of  opinion  *  that  it 
«  was  unadviseable,  because  of  the  opposition  made  to 
'  it  by  the  civil  authority  and  the  inhabitants,  and  be- 
'  cause,  even  if  they  could  succeed  in  defeating  a 
'  large  body  of  the  enemy  posted  in  their  way,  they 
'  had  not  a  sufficiency  of  boats  to  cross  the  Santee 
{  before  they  might  be  overtaken  by  the  whole  Bri- 
4  tish  army.'  The  council  therefore  recommend- 
ed a  capitulation. 

Saturday,  22  d. 

APPROACHES  continued  on  our  left  in  front  of  the 
advance  redoubt.     The  enemy  kept  up  a  heavy  can- 
nonade.    Three  men  wounded. 
Sunday,  23d. 

APPROACHES  continued  on  our  right  and  left ; 
those  on  the  right  within  twenty  yards  of  the  wet 
ditch.  About  eight  at  night  two  deserters  from  the 
enemy;  they'report  them  to  have  received  a  consider- 
able reinforcement*  from  New- York,  and  that  they 
detached  to  day,  ten  companies  of  light-infantry 
to  get  footing  at  HaddreU's-point,  they  say  the  enemy 
have  lost  a  number  of  men  by  our  shells. 
Monday,  24th. 

A  party  composed  of  three  hundred  men,  Vir- 
ginians and  South-Carolinians,  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Henderson,  made  a  sortie 
upon  the  enemy's  approaches,  opposite  the  advance 


*  Lord  Comvvallis  with  2500  men. 


79 

redoubts  at  day  light,  they  were  completely  surprised 
and  lost  about  fifteen  or  twenty  men  killed  with  the 
bayonet,  besides  twelve  persons  brought  off,  seven  of 
whom  were  wounded.  Captain  Moultrie  killed  and 
two  men  wounded  on  our  side.  The  enemy  at- 
tempted to  support  their  guards  from  the  trenches  ; 
but  on  receiving  rounds  of  grape,  made  them  retreat. 
The  prisoners  report  their  party  to  have  been  com- 
manded by  Major  Hall  of  the  71st  regiment,  but  no 
officers  were  to  be  found.  Colonel  Parker  killed 
about  eight  o'clock,  looking  over  the  parapet;  two 
privates  killed  and  seven  wounded.  The  greatest 
part  of  the  1st  South-Carolina  regiment  came  into 
garrison  this  morning,  with  Colonel  C.  Pinckney  from. 
Fort  Moultrie. 

Tuesday,  25th. 

BETWEEN  twelve  and  one  this  morning,  a  heavy 
fire  of  cannon  and  musketry,  commenced  from  our 
advanced  redoubt,  and  the  right  of  the  lines  occa- 
sioned as  it  was  said,  by  the  enemy's  advancing  in 
column.  It  is  certain  they  gave  several  huzzas,  but 
whether  they  were  out  of  their  trenches,  it  is  not 
clear ;  they  kept  up  a  very  heavy  and  incessant  fire 
with  musketry,  for  thirty  minutes.  The  enemy 
threw  several  light  balls  into  town.  Two  o'clock 
P.  M.  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Mount-Pleasant. 
Wednesday,  26th. 

THE  Lord  George  Germaine,  and  a  sloop,  joined 


80 

the  enemy's  fleet.  The  enemy  were  very  quiet  all 
day,  and  last  night ;  we  suppose  they  are  bringing 
cannon  into  thtir  third  parallel  :  they  are  strengthen- 
ing their  approaches  :  Lord  Cornwallis  took  posses- 
sion of  Mount-Pleasant  yesterday.  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral Du  Portail*  arrived  from  Philadelphia.  The 
garrison  ordered  to  be  served  with  the  usual  quantity 
of  provision  ;  a  plentiful  supply  having  been  receiv- 
ed. One  killed  ;  Captain  Goodwin  of  the  third 
South-Carolina  battalion,  and  one  private  wounded. 
ON  General  Du  Portail  delaring  that  the  works 
\vere  not  tenable,  a  council  was  again  called  upon 
for  an  evacuation,  and  to  withdraw  privately  with 
the  continental  troops :  when  the  citizens  were  in- 
formed upon  what  the  council  were  deliberating, 
some  of  them  came  into  council,  and  expressed  them- 
selves very  warmly,  and  declared  to  General  Lin- 
coln, that  if  he  attempted  to  withdraw  the  troops, 
and  leave  the  citizens  ;  that  they  would  cut  up  his 
boats,  and  open  the  gates  to  the  enemy  :  this  put  a 
stop  to  all  thoughts  of  an  evacuation  of  the  troops, 
and  nothing  was  left  for  us,  but  to  make  the  best 
terms  we  cpuld. 


*  As  soon  as  General  Du  Portail  came  into  garrison,  and; 
looked  at  the  enemy,  and  at  our  works,  he  declared  they  were 
not  tenable  ;  and  that  the  British  might  have  taken  the  town, 
ten  days  ngo  :  he  wished  to  leave  the  garrisen  immediately!  but 
General  Lincoln  would  not  allow  him,  because  it  WQuld  dis- 
pirit the  troops. 


81 

Thursday,  27th. 

ABOUT  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  four  of  the  ene- 
my's gallies,  an  armed  sloop,  and  a  frigate,  moved 
down  the  river,  and  anchored  opposite  the  mouth  of 
Hog's-Island  creek.  Five  militia  men,  late  of  James'- 
Island,  deserted  last  night  from  South-bay  in  a  boat. 
Our  post  at  Lamprier's-ferry,  retreated  across  the 
river,  in  the  night,  to  Charlestown,  after  spiking  up 
four  eighteen  pounders,  they  were  obliged  to  leavu. 
One  private  killed,  and  five  wounded. 
Friday,  28th. 

COLONEL  Charles  Pinckney  is  requested  to  assist 
General  Moultrie  in  directing  and  disposing  the 
artillery  of  the  different  batteries  and  works  in  and 
about  town.  Two  deserters  from  the  enemy  at  Hob- 
caw,  brought  over  by  our  troops  that  retreated  last 
night.  Some  supernumerary  officers  quitted  the 
garrison.  The  enemy  busy  in  throwing  up  their 
third  parallel,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  canal.  Our 
fatigue  employed  in  inclosing  the  horn-work  :  two 
privates  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Campaign  of  the  North? 
Carolinians,  and  two  privates  wounded. 
Saturday,  29th. 

WE  are  throwing  up  a  redoubt  on  the  right  of  tho 
horn-work.  The  enemy's  batteries  remarkably  si- 
lent ;  they  seem  to  intend  erecting  two  batteries  in 
their  third  parallel  ;  one  at  the  gate  opposite  the 
horn-work)  and  the  other  in  front  of  Col.  Parker's 


regiment.  A  heavy  bombardment  by  the  enemy  dur- 
ing the  night :  a  deserter  from  them  ;  who  says  that 
they  are  preparing  a  bridge  to  throw  over  the  canal. 
Captain  Templeton  of  the  fourth  Georgia  battalion, 
wounded  by  a  shell,  of  which  he  died. 
Sunday,  30th. 

THE  deserter  yesterday  further  tells  us  that  the 
huzzas  which  occasioned  the  firing  last  Tuesday 
morning,  were  from  the  enemy's  working  parties, 
who  thought  we  were  sallying  :  their  engineer,  he 
*ays,  had  ordered  them,  in  that  event,  to  give  three 
huzzas,  and  fall  back  upon  the  covering  party's,  who 
not  having  been  apprised  of  it,  received  them  as  an 
enemy  ;  in  consequence  of  which,  a  considerable 
number  of  them  were  killed  arid  wounded  :  he  af- 
firms the  account  of  the  enemy's  receiving  a  rein- 
forcement from  New-York,  and  says  their  detach- 
ment on  Hobcaw,  amounts  to  upwards  of  2,000  ;  that 
they  look  for  their  shipping  up  every  night ;  and 
are  preparing  a  large  number  of  fascines  to  fill  up 
the  canal.  Lieutenant  Hall  of  the  North-Carolinians 
wounded ;  his  leg  broke  by  a  grape-shot,  from  our 
own  batteries.  Lieutenant  Philips  of  the  Virgini- 
ans wounded  in  his  thigh  by  a  shell. 
Monday,  May  1st. 

OUR  fatigue  employed  in  erecting  another  redoubt 
on  the  left  of  the  horn-work,  and  completing  the 
new  works.  The  enemy  appear  to  be  about  another 


13 

battery  in  their  third  parallel,  opposite  No.  12,  on 
our  right.  The  garrison  congratulated  in  the  gene- 
ral orders  of  yesterday,  on  the  certainty  of  large 
reinforcements  being  at  hand.  Five  men  deserted 
from  the  galley  last  night,  Captain  Montford  of  the 
North-Carolinians  wounded,  and  Mr.  Lord,*  a  volua- 


*  Mr.  Lord  and  Mr.  Basquin,  two  volunteers,  were  sleeping 
upon  a  matrass  together,  when  Mr.  Lord  was  killed  by  a  shell 
falling  upon  him,  and  Mr.  Basquin  at  the  same  time,  had  the 
hair  of  his  head  burnt,  and  did  not  wake  till  he  was  called  upon. 
The  fatigue  in  that  advance  redoubt,  was  so  great,  for  want 
ofsletp,  that  many  faces  were  so  swelled  they  could  scarcely 
see  out  of  their  eyes.  1  was  obliged  to  relieve  Major  Mitchell 
the  commanding  officer  :  they  were  constantly  upon  the  look 
out  for  the  shells  that  were  continually  falling  among  them,  it 
was  by  far,  the  most  dangerous  post  on  the  lines.  On  my 
visit  to  this  battery,  not  having  been  there  for  a  day  or  two,  I 
took  the  usual  way  of  going  in,  which  was  a  bridge  that  crossed 
our  ditch,  quite  exposed  to  the  enemy,  in  the  mean  time,  they 
had  advanced  their  works  within  seventy  or  eighty  yards  of  the 
bridge,  which  I  did  not  know  of;  as  soon  as  I  had  stepped  upon 
the  bridge,  an  uncommon  number  of  bullets  whistled  about  me, 
on  looking  to  my  right,  I  could  just  see  the  heads  of  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  men  firing  upon  me,  from  behind  a  breast- 
work, I  moved  on  and  got  in  ;  when  Major  Mitchell  saw  me, 
he  asked  me  which  way  I  came  in,  I  told  him  over  the  bridge, 
he  wis  astonished,  and  said,  "  sir  it  is  a  thousand  to  one  that 
you  were  not  killed,"  ard  told  me,  "  that  we  had  a  covered 
way  to  go  out  and  in,"  which  he  conducted  me  through  on  my 
return.  1  stayed  in  this  battery  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  to 
give  the  necessary  orders,  iu  which  time  we  were  constantly 
skipping  about  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  the  shells  thrown  from 
their  howitzers,  they  were  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards 
from  our  works,  and  throwing  their  shells  in  bushels  on  our 
front  and  left  flanks. 


84 

teer  in  the  continental  artillery,  killed  yesterday  by  a 
shell,  in  the  advanced  redoubt.  A  smart  bombard- 
ment during  the  day. 

Tuesday,  2cT. 

LAST  night  the  enemy  were  making  a  ditch  on  the 
right,  to  drain  our  canal.  A  number  of  men  killed 
and  wounded  within  these  last  three  or  four  days  ; 
their  number  not  ascertained.  A  nine  pounder 
bursted  at  battery  No.  12,  and  a  quantity  of  fixed 
ammunition  blown  up  by  accident  at  batteries  No.  10 
and  12.  The  enemy  throw  shells  at  us  charged  with 
rice  and  sugar.* 

Wednesday,  3d. 
OUR  fatigue  employed  in  fixing  picquets,  See. 

Thursday,  4th. 

OUR  rations  of  meat  reduced  to  six  ounces,  coffee 
and  sugar  allowed  to  the  soldiers.  The  fire  from 
the  enemy's  cannon  still  slack,  but  they  do  not 
spare  their  shells. 

Friday,  5th. 

CAPTAIN  William  Mitchell  of  the   continental  ar- 
tillery, badly  wounded  by  a  shell. 
Saturday,  6th. 
FROM   all  appearance,    Fort  Moultrief  is  in  the 


*  They  were  misinformed  if  they  fupposcd  us  in  wa:;t  of 
those  articles. 

t  Fort  Moultrie  \vas  given  tip  without  firing  a  gun. 


85 

hands  of  the  enemy  ;  a  British  flag  was  seen  flying 
on  the  flag-staff. 

Sunday,  7th. 

THE  above  confirmed.  Our  principal  magazine* 
near  being  destroyed,  by  a  thirteen  inch  shell  burst. 
ing  within  ten  yards  of  it. 

Monday,  8th. 

A  SECOND  summons  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  in- 
informing  us  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  that  the 
remains  of  our  cavalry  were  cut  to  pieces  the  day 
before  yesterday.  The  embrazures  of  the  enemies 
batteries  in  the  third  parallel!  opened  last  night. 
Our  meat  quite  out,  rice  sugar  and  coffee  served  out. 


*  The  old  magazine  behind  St.  Philip's  Church :  in 
consequence  of  that  shell  falling  so  near,  I  had  the  powder 
(10,000  pounds)  removed  to  the  north  east  corner,  under  the 
exchange,  and  had  the  doors  and  windows  bricked  up.  Not- 
withstanding the  British  had  possession  of  Charlestown  so 
long,  they  never  discovered  the  powder,  although  their  provost 
was  the  next  apartment  to  it,  and  after  the  evacuation,  when 
we  came  into  town,  we  found  the  powder  as  we  left  it. 

t  When  the  enemy's  third  parallel  was  completed,  we  had 
sand-bags  placed  upon  the  top  of  our  lines,  for  the  riflemen  io 
fire  through.  The  sand-bags  were  about  two  feet  long  ard  one 
foot  thick,  we  laid  down  first  two  of  them,  three  or  four  inches 
one  from  the  other,  and  a  third  laid  upon  the  top  of  the  two, 
which  made  a  small  loop  hole  for  the  riflemen  to  fire  through, 
the  British  immediately  followed  our  example:  many  men 
were  killed  and  wounded  through  these  hole?. 

VOL.  II.  M 


86 

FROM  SIR  HENRY  CLINTOW. 
<CAMP  BEFORE  CHARLESTOWN,  May  8th,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

4  CIRCUMSTANCED  as  I  now  am  with  respect  to  the 
4  place  invested,  humanity  only  can  induce  me  to  lay 
6  within  your  reach  the  terms  I  had  determined  should 

*  not  again   be  proffered.     The  fall  of  Fort  Sullivan? 
4  the  destruction  on   the   sixth   instant,    of  what  re- 

*  mained  of  your  cavalry,  the  critical  period  to  which 
4  our  approaches  against  the  town  has  brought  us, 

*  mark   this   as  the   term  of  your  hopes  of  succor, 
4  could  you  have  framed  any,  and  as  an  hour  beyond 
4  which,    resistance   is  temerity.     By  this  last  sum- 

*  mons  therefore,   I  throw  to  your  charge  whatever 

*  vindictive  severity  exasperated  soldiers  may  inflict 
'  on  the  unhappy  people,  whom  you  devote  by  per- 

*  severing  in  a  fruitless  defence. 

1  I  SHALL  expect  your  answer  until  eight  o'clock, 
1  when  hostilities  will  commence  again,  unless  the 

*  town  be  surrendered,  Sec.  &c. 

4  H.  CLINTON.' 
4  Maj.  Gen.  LINCOLN. 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

4  CHARLEITOWN,  May  8th,  1780. 

«  SIR, 

4  YOUR  letter  to  me   of  this  date,  is  now  un- 
'  der  consideration.     There  are    so  many  different 


sr 

*  interests  to  be  consulted,  that  I  have  to  propose 
« that  hostilities  do  not  again  commence  until  twelve 

*  o'clock. 

*  B.  LINCOLN. 
*  His  Ex.  Sir  HEN»Y  CLINTON.' 

FROM  SIR  HKNRY  CLINTON. 

t  SIR,  May  8th,  1780. 

«  I  CONSENT  that  hostilities  shall  not  again  com- 

*  mence  before  the  hour  of  twelve,  as  you  desire. 

1 1  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

<  H.  CLINTON. 

*  Maj.  Gen.  LINCOLN.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

*  SIR,  May  8th,  1780. 

*  As  more  time  has  been  expended  in  consult- 
<  ing  the  different  interests,  then  I  supposed  there 
1  would  be,  I  have  to  request  that  the  truce  may 

*  be  continued  until  4  o'clock. 

*  B.  LINCOLN. 

*  His  Ex.  Sir  HENRY  CLIWTON.' 

ARTICLES  OF  CAPITULATION   PROPOSED 
BY  MAJOR  GENERAL  LINCOLN. 

CHARLF.STOWN,  May  8th,   1780. 

ART.    1.     That  all  acts  of  hostilities  and  works 

shall  cease  between  the  besiegers  and  the  besieged, 


88 

until  the  articles  of  capitulation  shall  be  agreed  on, 
signed,  and  executed  ;  or  collectively  rejected. 

ART.  2.  The  town  and  fortifications  shall  be  sur- 
rendered to  the  commander  in  chief  of  the  British 
forces,  such  as  they  now  stand. 

ART.  3.  That  the  continental  troops  and  sailors, 
with  their  baggage,  shall  be  conducted  to  a  place 
to  be  agreed  on  ;  where  they  shall  remain  prisoners 
of  war,  until  exchanged  :  while  prisoners,  they  shall 
be  supplied  with  good  and  wholesome  provisions,  in 
such  quantity  as  are  served  out  to  the  troops  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty. 

ART.  4.  The  militia  now  in  garrison  shall  be 
permitted  to  return  to  their  respective  homes,  and 
be  secured  in  their  persons  and  properties. 

ART.  5.  The  sick  and  wounded  shall  be  con- 
tinued under  the  care  of  their  own  surgeons,  and 
be  supplied  with  medicines,  and  such  other  necessa- 
ries as  are  allowed  to  British  hospitals. 

ART.  6.  The  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  shall 
keep  their  horses,  swords,  pistols,  and  baggage  ; 
which  shall  not  be  searched  ;  and  retain  their  servants. 

ART.  7,  The  garrison,  at  an  hour  appointed,  to 
march  out  with  shouldered  arms,  drums  beating,  and 
colors  flying,  to  a  place  to  be  agreed  on,  where  they 
will  pile  their  arms. 

ABT.  8.  That  the  French  consul,  his  house,  pa- 
pers, and  other  moveable  property,  shall  be  protect- 


89 

ed  and  untouched  ;  and  a  proper  time  granted  to 
him  for  retiring  to  any  place  that  may  afterwards  be 
agreed  upon  between  him  and  the  commander  in 
chief  of  his  British  forces. 

ART.  9.  That  the  citizens  shall  be  protected  in 
their  lives  and  properties. 

ART.  10.  That  twelve  months  time  be  allowed 
all  such  as  do  not  choose  to  continue  under  the  Bri- 
tish government,  to  dispose  of  their  effects,  real,  and 
personal,  in  the  state,  without  any  molestation  whate- 
ver ;  or  to  remove  such  part  thereof  as  they  choose, 
as  well  as  themselves  and  families  :  and  that,  dur- 
ing that  time,  they,  or  any  of  them,  may  have  it  in 
their  option  to  reside  occasionally  in  town  or  country. 

ART.  1 1.  That  the  same  protection  to  their  per- 
sons and  properties,  and  the  same  time  for  the  re- 
moval of  their  effects ;  be  given  to  the  subjects  of 
France  and  Spain,  as  are  required  for  the  citizens 
in  the  preceding  article, 

ART.  12.  That  a  vessel  be  permitted  to  go  to 
Philadelphia  with  the  general's  dispatches,  which  are 
not  to  be  opened. 

(Signed)  B.  LINCOLN. 

FROM  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 

'  SIR,  May  8th,   1780. 

;  As  I  wish  to  communicate  with  the  Admiral 

1  upon  the  subject  of  your  last  letter,   I  have  to  de> 


*sire  that   an  aid-de-camp*  may  be  permitted  to 
«  pass  to  the  fleet  for  that  purpose. 
*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

«  H.  CLINTON. 
*  Major  General  LINCOLN.' 

FROM  SIR  HENRT  CLINTON. 

<  May  8th,  six  o'clock,  P.  M. 

*  SIR, 

'  IN  order  to  give  the  articles  of  capitulation 
'  which  you  proposed,  a  due  consideration  ;  I  propose 
( that  the  cessation  of  hostilities  shall  continue  until  to- 
4  morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock  ;  arid  that  in  the 
'  mean  time,  every  thing  shall  continue  in  its  present 

*  situation  :  if  you   accede  to  this,  you  will  please  to 
4  give  me  immediate  information  of  it. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

*  H.  CLINTON. 
*  Major  General  LINCOLN.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

1  May  8th,  1780. 

,SlR, 

'I  ACCEDE   to  your  proposal,   that  hostilities 
*  shall  cease  until  to-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock, 


*  To  pass  from  Gibb's,   down  Ashley-river,   to  the  fleet 
lying  at  fore  Johnsen....it  was  granted. 


91 

*  and  that  in  the  mean  time  all  works  shall  continue 

*  in  their  present  statet 

(Signed)  «  B.  LINCOLN. 

(  Hu  Ex.  Sir  HENRY  CLINTON. 

FROM  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 

<  SIR,  May  8th,   1780. 

*  YOUR  answer  to  my  letter  proposing  a  contin- 
«  uation  of  the  truce  until  to-morrow  morning  at 

*  eight  o'clock,  only  accedes  to  the  cessation  of  hos- 

<  tilities,    and  that  in  the  mean  time  all  works  shall 

*  continue  in  their  present  state  ;  but  my  proposition 

*  was,  that,  until  that  time,  every  thing  should  con- 
{  tinue  in  its  present  situation  ;    and  my  meaning 

*  was,  that  there  should  not  be  an  attempt  made  to 

*  remove  any  of  the  troops,  or  destroy  any  of  the 

*  ships,    stores,    or  other    effects  whatever,  now  in 

*  the  town  or  harbor:  If  your  idea  is  the  same,  I 

*  must  request  you  will  express  yourself  more  ex- 

*  plicitly. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

*H.  CLINTON. 
1  Major  General  LINCOLN.' 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
4  SIR,  May,  8th,  1780. 

'  IN  agreeing  that  the  truce  should  be  continued 
'  until  eight  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  and    all 


92 

*  works  remain  as  they  were,  I  meant  to  accede  to 
'  your  proposal,  that  every  thing  should  continue  in 

*  its  present  situation,  which  I  again  assent  to. 

'  B.  LINCOLN.' 
{  His.  Ex.  Sir  HENRY  CLINTON.' 

WHILE  these  flags  were  passing,  the  militia  looked 
upon  all  the  business  as  settled,  and  without  orders, 
took  up  their  baggage  and  walked  into  town,  leaving 
the  lines  quite  defenceless. 

ALTERATIONS  OF  ARTICLES  OF  CAPITULATION 
PROPOSED  BY  MAJOR  GENERAL  LINCOLN,  AND 
ANSWERED  BY  THEIR  EXCELLENCIES,  SIR  HENRY 
CLINTON,  K.  B.  AND  VICE  ADMIRAL  ARBUTHNOT. 

ARTICLE  1.  All  acts  of  hostilities  and  work  shall 
cease  until  the  articles  of  capitulation  are  finally 
agreed  to  or  rejected. 

ART.  2.  The  town  and  fortifications,  with  the  ship- 
ping at  the  wharves,  artillery,  and  all  public  stores 
whatever,  shall  be  surrendered  in  their  present  state 
to  the  commanders  of  the  investing  forces.  Proper 
officers  shall  attend  from  the  respective  departments 
to  receive  them. 

ART.  3.     Granted. 

ART.  4.  The  militia  now  in  garrison  shall  be 
permitted  to  return  to  their  respective  homes,  as 


93 

prisoners  upon  parole,  which,  so  long  as  they  ob- 
serve it,  shall  secure  them  from  being  molested  in 
their  property  by  the  British  troops. 

ART.  5.     Granted. 

ART.  6.  Granted,  except  with  respect  to  their 
horses,  which  will  not  be  allowed  to  go  out  of  town, 
but  may  be  disposed  of  by  a  person  left  from  each 
corps  for  that  purpose. 

ART.  7.  The  whole  garrison  shall,  at  an  hour  to 
be  appointed,  march  out  of  town,  to  the  ground  be- 
tween the  works  of  the  place  and  the  canal,  where 
they  will  deposit  their  arms.  The  drums  are  not  to 
beat  a  British  march,  or  colors  be  uncased. 

ART.  8.  Agreed,  with  this,  restriction,  that  they  are 
to  consider  themselves  as  prisoners  of  war  on  parole. 

ART.  10.  The  discussion  of  this  article,  of  coursei 
cannot  possible  be  entered  into  at  present. 

ART.  11.  The  subjects  of  France  and  Spain  shall 
have  the  same  terms  as  are  granted  to  the  French 
consul. 

ART.  12.  Granted:  and  a  proper  vessel,  with  a 
flag,  will  be  provided  for  that  purpose. 

Att  public  papers  and  records  must  be  carefully 
preserved,  and  faithfully  delivered  to  such  as  shall 
be  appointed  to  receive  them. 

(Signed)  H.  CLINTON". 

M.  ARBUTHNOTt 

Camp  before  Charlestown,  May  9th,  1780, 

VOL.    II.  N 


94 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

'  May  9th,  1780. 
<  Sm, 

4  IN  reply  to  your  answer  on  the  articles  of  capi- 
•  tulation,  I  must  remark  that  in  their  present  state 
i  they  are  inadmissable  ;  and  have  to  propose  those 
'  now  sent,  may  be  acceded  to. 

*  IF  any    further  explanation  should  be  necessary, 
'  I  have  to  propose  also,  that  two  or  three  gentle- 
4  men  be  appointed    to  meet  and  confer  on  the  sub- 
<  jcct.         I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sec. 

<  B.  LINCOLN. 

*  His  Ex.  Sir  HENRY  CMNTON. 

ALTERATIONS  OF  ARTICLES  OF  CAPITU- 
LATION, PROPOSED  BY  MAJOR  GENERAL 
LINCOLN. 

ART.  2.  The  town  and  fortifications  ;  with  the 
shipping  at  the  wharves  (excepting  those  which  are 
private  property)  and  all  public  stores  shall  be  sur- 
rendered in  their  present  state,  to  the  commander 
in  chief  of  the  British  forces 

ART.  4.  The  militia  now  in  garrison,  shall  be 
permitted  to  return  to  their  respective  homes,  with 
their  baggage  unmolested  ;  and  not  to  be  considered 
as  prisoners  of  war. 

ART.  6.  Such  of  the  officers  as  may  be  unwilling 
to  dispose  of  their  horses,  may  keep  them. 


95 

ART.  7.  This  article  to  stand  as  at  first  propos- 
ed :  the  drums  beating  a  British  march. 

ART.  8.  The  French  consul,  never  having  borne 
arms,  and  acting  in  a  civil  capacity,  is  not  to  be 
considered  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

ART.  9.  The  citizens,  and  all  other  persons,  now 
in  town,  who  are  inhabitants  of  this  state,  shall  be 
secured  in  their  persons  and  properties,  both  in 
town  and  country  ;  and  not  to  be  considered  priso- 
ners of  war. 

ART.  10.  This  article  to  stand  as  at  first  propos- 
ed :  the  persons  who  may  claim  the  privileges 
therein  expressed,  giving  their  paroles  that  they 
will  not  act  against  the  British  government,  until 
they  are  exchanged. 

ART.  11.  This  article  to  stand  as  at  first  proposed, 
with  the  same  restrictions  as  are  mentioned  in  Art. 
10.  In  order  to  prevent  disputes,  it  is  to  be  under- 
stood that  all  officers  of  the  continental  army,  who 
are  citizens  of  this  state,  be  entitled  to  all  the  bene- 
fits of  citizens,  with  regard  to  the  security  of  their 
property.  All  public  records  now  in  town,  will  be 
delivered  to  such  persons  as  may  be  appointed  to  re- 
ceive  them.  (Signed)  B.  LINCOLN. 

Done  at  Charlestown,  May  9th,  1780. 


96 

To  GEN.  LINCOLK. 

<  May  9th,  1780. 

«  SIR, 

«  No  other  motives  but  those  of  forbearance  and 

*  compassion  induced  us  to  renew  offers  of  terms  you 

*  certainly  had  no  claim  to.     The   alterations   you 
4  propose,  are  all  utterly  inadmissable  ;  hostilities  will 

in  consequence  commence  afresh,  at  eight  o'clock. 

«  H.  CLINTON.' 
<  M.  ARBUTHNOT.' 
*  Maj.  Gen.  LINCOLK. 

AFTER  receiving  the  above  letter,  we  remained 
near  an  hour  silent,  all  calm  and  ready,  each  waiting 
for  the  other  to  begin.  At  length,  we  fired  the  first 
gun,  and  immediately  followed  a  tremendous  cannon- 
ade,* and  the  mortars  from  both  sides  threw  out  an 
immense  number  of  shells;  it  was  a  glorious  sight, 
to  see  them  like  meteors  crossing  each  other,  and 
bursting  in  the  air;  it  appeared  as  if  the  stars  were 
tumbling  down.  The  fire  was  incessant  almost  the 
whole  night;  cannon-balls  whizzing  and  shells  hissing 
continually  amongst  us  ;  ammunition  chests  and 
temporary  magazines  blowing  up;  great  guns  burst- 
ing, and  wounded  men  groaning  along  the  lines  :  it 
was  a  dread/ul  night!  it  was  our  last  great  effort,  but 


*  About  1 80  or  200  pieces  of  heavy  cannon  fired  off  at  the 
same  moment. 


97 

it  availed  us  nothing;  after  this,  our  military  ardor 
was  much  abated  ;  we  began  to  cool,  and  we  cooled 
gradually,  and  on  the  eleventh  of  May  we  capitu- 
lated, and  in  the  morning  of  the  twelfth,  we  marched 
out  and  gave  up  the  town. 

To  SIR  HENRY  CLINTON. 

<  CHARIESTOWN,  May,  llth,  1780. 
<  SIR, 

1  THE  same  motives  of  humanity,  which  inclined 

*  you  to  propose  articles  of  capitulation  to  this  garrison 

*  induced  me  to  offer  those  I  had  the  honor  of  send- 
4  ing   you  on  the  8th  inst.     They  then  appeared  to 

*  me,  such  as  I  might  proffer,  and  you  receive,  with 

*  honor  to  both  parties.     Your  exceptions  to  them, 

*  as  they  principally  concerned  the  militia  and  citi- 
«  zens,   I  then  conceived  were  such  as  could  not  be 

*  concurred  with ;    but   a   recent   application   from 
4  those  people,  wherein  they  express  an  unwillingness 
(  to   comply  with  them,   and  a  wish  on  my  part  to 
1  lessen  as  much  as  may  be,   the  distresses  of  war  to 
'  individuals,  lead  me  now  to  offer  you  my  acceptance 
4  of  them. 

*  J  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

4  B.  LINCOLN.'  . 


95 

To  GEN.  LINCOLN. 
«  CAMP  BEFORE  CHARLESTOWN,  May  llth,  1780. 

<  SIR, 

«  WHEN  you  rejected  the  favorable  terms  which 

<  were  dictated  by  an  earnest  desire  to  prevent  effu- 

*  sion  of  blood,    and   interposed  articles   that  were 
4  wholly  inadmissable  ;  both  the  admiral  and  myself, 
4  were  of  opinion  that  the  surrender  of  the  town  at 

*  discretion,  was  the  only  condition  that  should  after- 

*  wards  be  attended  to;  but  as  the  motives  which  then 

*  induced  them,    are   still  prevalent,   I   now  inform 

*  you  that  the  terms  then  offered,  will  still  be  grant- 

*  ed.     A  copy  of  the  articles  shall  be  sent  for  your 

<  ratification,  as  soon  as  they  can  be  prepared,  and 

*  immediately  after  they  are  exchanged,  a  detachment 

*  of  grenadiers  will  be  sent  to  take  possession  of  the 
'horn-work,   opposite   your,  main  gate.     Every  ar- 
4  rangement  which  may  conduce  to  good  order  in 
'  occupying  the  town,   shall  be   settled  before    ten 

*  to-morrow,   and  at  that  time    your  garrison  shall 

*  march  out. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

«  H.  CLIHTON.' 


ARTICLES  OF  CAPITULATION  BETWEEN  HIS  EXCEL- 
LENCY SIR  HENRY  CLINTON,  &C.  AND  MARIO f 
ARBUTHNOT,  ESQ;  VICE  ADMIRAL}  AND  MAJOR 
GENERAL  LINCOLN. 

ART.  1.  That  all  acts  of      ART.  1.  All  acts  of  hos- 
hostilities  and   work  shall  tilities   and     works    shall 
cease  between  the  besie-  ce  ase,  until  the  articles  of 
gers    and    the    besieged,  capitulation  are  finally  a- 
until  the  articles  of  capi-  greed  to,  or  rejected, 
tulation  shall  be  agreed  on, 
signed  and  executed,   or 
collectively  rejected. 

ART.  2.    The  town  and      ART.  2.  The  town  and 
fortifications  shall  be  sur-  fortifications  with  the  ship- 
rendered  to  the  command-  ping  at  the  wharves,  artil- 
er  in  chief  of  the  British  lery  and  all  public  stores 
forces  as  they  now  stand,  whatsoever,   shall  be  sur- 
rendered in  their  present 
state,  to    the  commander 
of   the   investing    forces. 
Proper  officers  shall  attend 
from  the  respective  depart- 
ments to  receive  them* 
ART.  3.  The  continen-      ART.  3.  Granted, 
tal  troops  and  sailors  with 
their   baggage,    shall   be 
conducted  to  a  place  to  be 
agreed   on,    where   they 


100 

shall  remain  prisoners  of 
war  until  exchanged;  while 
prisoners,  they  shall  be 
supplied  with  good  and 
wholesome  provisions  in 
such  quantity  as  is  served 
out  to  the  troops  of  his 
Britannic  majesty. 

ART.  4.  The  militia  now  ART. 4.  The  militia  now 
in  garrison  shall  be  per-  in  garrison  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  return  to  their  mitted  to  return  to  their 
respective  homes,  and  be  respective  homes  as  pri- 
secured  in  their  persons  soners  of  war  on  parole, 
and  property.  which  parole,  as  long  as 

they  observe,  shall  secure 
them  from  being  molested 
in  their  property  by  the 
British  troops. 

ART.  5.  The  sick  and  ART.  5.  Granted, 
wounded  shall  be  continu- 
ed under  the  care  of  their 
own  surgeons,  and  be  sup- 
plied with  medicines  and 
such  necessaries  as  are 
allowed  to  the  British  hos- 
pitals. 

ART.  6.  The  officers  of  ART.  6.  Granted,  except 
the  army  and  navy  shall  with  respect  to  the  horses, 


lot 

keep  their  horses,  swords,  which  will  not  be  allowed 
pistols  and  baggage,  which  to  go  out  of  town,  but 
shall  not  be  searched,  and  may  be  disposed  of  by  a 
retain  their  servants.  person  left  for  that  purpose 

from  each  corps. 

ART.  7.  The  garrison  ART.  7.  The  whole  gar- 
shall  at  an  hour  appointed,  rison  shall  at  an  hour  to  be 
march  out  with  shouldered  appointed,  march  out  of 
arms,  drums  beating  and  the  town,  to  the  ground 
colours  Hying,  to  a  place  between  the  works  of  the 
agreed  on,  where  they  place  and  the  canal,  where 
will  pile  the  arms.  they  will  deposit  their 

arms.  The  drums  not  to 
beat*  a  British  march,  or 
the  colors  to  be  uncased. 

ART.  8.  That  the  French       ART.  8.   Agreed,   with 
consul,  his  house,  papers  this  restriction,    that  he 
and  other  moveable  pro-  consider  himself  as  a  pris- 
perty,  shall  be  protected  oner  on  parole, 
and  untouched,  and  a  pro- 
per time  granted  to  him 
for  retiring  to  any  place 
that   may    afterwards   be 
agreed  upon  between  him 
and   the    commander    in 
chief  of  the  British  forces. 


We  marched  out  with  the  Turk's  march. 
o 


102 

ART.  9.  That  the  citi-  ART.*.  All  civil  officers 
zens  be  protected  in  their  and  citizens  who  have 
dersons  and  property.  borne  arms-  during  the 
siege,  must  be  prisoners 
on  parole,  and  with  respect 
to  their  property  in  the 
city,  shall  have  the  same 
terms  as  are  granted  to 
the  militia;  and  all  other 
.persons  now  in  town,  not 
described  in  this  or  other 
articles,  are  notwithstand- 
ing, understood  to  be  pris- 
oners on  parole. 

ART*  H>.   That  twelve      ART.  10.  The  discuss- 
months  time,  be   allowed  ion  of  this  article  of  course 
all  such  as  do  not  choose  cannot  possibly   be  enter- 
to    continue    under    the  ed  into  at  present. 
British  government  to  dis- 
pose of  their  effects,  real, 
and  personal,  in  the  state, 
without    any  molestation 
whatever;  or  to  remove 
such  part  thereof  as  they 
choose,  as  well  as  them- 
selves   and  family  ;    and 
during  that  time,     they, 
or  any  of  them,  may  hav« 


at  their  option  to  reside  •  . 

occasionally  in    town  or 
country. 

ART.    11.      That   the       ART.  11.    The  subjects 
same  protection  to  their  of  France  and  Spain  shall 
persons  and  property,  and  have  the  same  terms  as 
the  same  time  for  the  re-  are  granted  to  the  French 
moval  of  their  effects,  be  consul, 
given  to  the  subjects  of 
France  and  Spain,  as  are 
required  for  the  citizens 
.in  the  preceding  article. 

ART.  12.    That  a  ves-      ART.  12.  Granted;  and 
sel  be  permitted  to  go  to  a  proper   vessel,    with   a 
Philadelphia,  with  the  gen-  flag,    will  be  provided  for 
eral's  dispatches ;   which  that  purpose, 
are  not  to  be  opened. 

ALL  public  papers  and  records  must  be  carefully 
preserved,  and  faithfully  delivered  to  such  persons 
as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive  them. 

Done  in  the  Camp  before  Charlestown, 
May  12th,  1780. 

H.  CLINTON. 

M.  AKBUTHNOTe 


104 

A  LETTER  FROM   SIR   HKNRY  CLINTON   AND  AD- 
MIRAL ARBUTHNOT,  TO  GENERAL  LINCOLN. 
*  HEAD-QUARTERS  BEFORE  CHARLESTOWN, 
<SlR,  May   12th,   1780. 

<  We  have  to  request  you   will  propose  some 

*  proper  contiguous  building  in  the  town,    for  the 
'  residence  of  the  private  prisoners  of  Avar,  not  to  be 

*  on  parole  ;  those  will  be,  of  course,  such  as  may, 

*  in  discretion  be  asked. 

*  THB  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  will  go  to  the 
'  barracks  at  HaddrelPs-point,    and  boats  will  be  at 

*  the  wharves  to  convey  them  at  3  o'clock. 

*  THE  militia  must  depart  as  speedily  as  possible  ; 

*  and  by  a  report  of  the  numbers  departing  home- 

*  wards,  on  parole,  by  the  several  roads  of  the  coun- 
'  try,    boats    shall  convey  their  baggage  to  Stono- 

*  ferry ;    to    Dorchester ;    to   Strawberry-ferry  ;    to 
'  Cain-hoy  :     themselves  shall  be    escorted  beyond 
'  our  neighboring  posts. 

*  WE  beg  from  you,  a  general  return  of  all  per- 
1  sons  bearing  arms ;    and  also  all  persons  yet  in 

*  town,  in  civil  capacities. 

*  As  soon   as  the  detachment  of  grenadiers  take 

*  possession  of  the  horn-work,  our  deputies  of  depart- 
'  ments  shall  meet  your's,  who  will  deliver  up  to  them, 

*  all  public  effects  ;  and  when  your  troops  shall  have 
quitted  the  town  ;  the  garrison  destined  to  it,  shall 

*  march  in,    Your  officers  shall  be   allowed  to  go  to 


'  the  extent  of  six  miles  from  the  barracks,  but  to 
**  pass  no  river,  creek,  or  arm  of  the  sea. 

*  We  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

/ 
'  H.  CLINTON. 

*  M.  ARBUTHNOT.' 

EARLY  in  the  siege,  General  Lincoln  requested, 
and  urged  the  necessity  of  the  governor  and  council 
leaving  the  town  ;  that  their  being  in  the  country 
would  keep  up  the  civil  authority,  and  be  more  use- 
ful than  they  could  possibly  be,  by  staying  in  town  : 
the  governor  made  many  objections,  and  said  the 
citizens  would  say  he  left  them  in  a  time  of  danger ; 
at  last  they  fell  upon  an  expedient  that  satisfied  all 
parties,  which  was,  that  the  governor,  and  three  of 
his  council,  should  leave  the  town ;  and  that  lieuten- 
ant governor  Gadsden,  and  the  five  others  of  the 
council,  should  remain  within  the  lines:  this  being 
agreed  to,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  April,  Governor 
Rutledge,  the  honorables  .Charles  Pinckney,  John 
Lewis,  Gervais  and  Daniel  Huger  left  the  town, 
and  went  into  the  north  part  of  the  country.  It  was 
very  fortunate  for  the  province,  that  the  governor 
vras  not  made  a  prisoner  in  town  :  his  presence  in 
the  country,  kept  every  thing  alive,  and  gave  great 
spirits  to  the  people,  to  have  a  man  of  such  great 
abilities,  firmness,  and  decision  amongst  them  :  he 
gave  commissions  ;  raised  new  corps ;  embodied  the 


106 

militia,  and  went  to  Philadelphia,  to  solicit  reinforce- 
ments :  he  returned,  and  joined  the  army  ;  he  stay- ' 
ed  by  them  ;    enforced  the  laws  of  the  province  ; 
called  the  legislature  ;  in  short,  he  did  every  thing 
that  could  be  done  for  the  good  of  the  country. 

A  RETURN  OF  THE  NUMBER  OF  CANNON,  &C.  IN 
CHAKLESTOWN,  AT  THE  SURRENDER,  ON  THE 
TWELFTH  OF  MAY,  1780,  IN  THE  BATTERIES. 

BATTERIES  ON  THE  LINES. 

GUNS. 

No.  1.      Beginning  on  the  left 10 

2 6 

3. 6 

4 2 

5.       .     . 6 

6 8 

7.       .     .     - 4 

8. 4 

9 2 

10 2 

11. 2 


12. 
13. 


14 • 

15.  Advance  redoubt 6 

16.  Carabray's  battery • 2 

79 


io7 

BATTERIES  ON  THE  WATER-SIDE. 

GUKS. 

No.  1  •  Liberty  battery,  where  liberty-tree  stood  6 

2.  Lauren's  wharf    .......  10 

3.  Cravan's  Governor-bridge        .    .     ;  7 

4.  Exchange    , .     .  14 

5.  Grenville's*      ........  8 

6.  Lyttleton's  .     . .     .  12 

7.  Broughton's     ........  20 

8.  Gibbs's-wharf       .......  7 

9.  Britigney,  behind  Gibb's  house    .     .  4 
10.       Sugar-house .     .  7 

95 
Fort  Moultrie 30 

125 
Four  and  six  peunders  ....  17 

142 

GUNS.  FOUNDS.  SHOT. 

15         ....        24         ...     2817 
31          ...        18          ...     7279 
43         ...         12         ...     4990 
68         ...          9         ...     4670 
157 
About  fifty  thousand  pounds  of  powder. 

Mortars,  {number  not  known.) 
N.  B.    A  number  of  the  above  guns  were  taken 
from  the  ships,  two  frigates  and  others. 

•  South  end  of  East-Bay. 


IDS 

ABOUT  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  on  the  twelfth  of 
May,  we  marched  out  between  1500  and  1600  conti- 
nental troops,  (leaving  five  or  six  hundred  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  hospitals)  without  the  horn-work,  on 
the  left,  and  piled  our  arms ;  the  officers  marched 
the  men  back  to  the  barracks,  where  a  British  guard 
was  placed  over  them  ;  the  British  then  asked  where 
our  second  division  was  I  they  were  told  these  were 
all  the  continentals  we  had,  except  the  sick  and 
•wounded ;  they  were  astonished,  and  said  we  had 
made  a  gallant  defence.  Captain  Rochfort  had 
marched  in  with  a  detachment  of  the  artillery  to 
receive  the  returns  of  our  artillery  stores:  while  we 
were  in  the  horn-work  together  in  conversation,  he 
said  *  sir  you  have  made  a  gallant  defence,  but  you 
had  a  great  many  rascals  among  you,'  (and  mention- 
ed names)  (  who  came  out  every  night  and  gave  us 
information  of  what  was  passing  in  your  garrison.' 
The  militia  marched  out  the  same  day  and  delivered 
up  their  arms  at  the  same  place ;  the  continental  offi- 
cers went  into  town  to  their  quarters,  where  they  re- 
mained a  few  days  to  collect  their  baggage,  and 
signed  their  paroles,  then  were  sent  over  to  Hadclrell's 
point.  The  militia  remained  in  Charlestown.  The 
next  day  the  militia  were  ordered  to  parade  near 
Lynch's  pasture,*  and  to  bring  all  their  arms  with 


Where  the  spring  pump  now  stands. 


109 

them,  guns,  swords,  pistols,  8cc.  and  those  that  did 
not  strictly  comply,  were  threatened  with  having  the 
grenadiers  turned  in  among  them ;  this  threat  brought 
out  the  aged,  the  timid,  the  disaffected,  and  the  in- 
firm, many  of  them  who  had  never  appeared  during 
the  whole  siege,  which  swelled  the  number  of  militia 
prisoners  to,  at  least,  three  times  the  number  of  men 
we  ever  had  upon  duty :  I  saw  the  column  march  out, 
and  was  surprised  to  see  it  so  large  ;  but  many  of 
them  we  had  excused,  from  age  and  infirmities ;  how- 
ever, they  would  do  to  enrol  on  a  conqueror's  list. 
When  the  British  received  their  arms,  they  put  them 
in  waggons,  and  carried  them  to  a  store-house,  where 
we  had  deposited  our  fixed  ammunition  (about  4,000 
pounds)  and  although  they  were  informed  by  some 
of  our  officers  that  the  arms  were  loaded,  and  several 
of  them  went  off  before  the  explosion  took  place,  yet 
in  taking  them  out  of  the  waggons  they  threw  them 
so  carelessly  into  the  store,  that  some  at  last  set 
fire  to  the  powder,  which  blew  up  the  whole  guard 
of  fifty*  men,  and  many  others  that  were  standing 
by  ;  their  carcasses,  legs,  and  arms  were  seen  in. 
the  air,  and  scattered  over  several  parts  of  the  town. 
One  man  was  dashed  with  violence  against  the 
steeple  of  the  new  independant  church,  which  was 
at  a  great  distance  from  the  explosion,  and  left  the 
marks  of  his  body  there  for  several  days.  The 
houses  in  the  town  received  a  great  shock,  and  the 


110 

window  sashes  rattled  as  if  they  would  tumble  out 
of  the  frames. 

MOST  of  our  militia  were  still  together  ;  after  de- 
livering up  their  arms,  they  went  in  a  body  to  assist 
in  extinguishing  the  fire,  that  had  communicated 
itself  to  the  neighboring  houses;  and  while  they 
were  working  they  were  under  the  dreadful  appre- 
hensions lest  the  magazine  should  take  fire,  as  the 

F 
work-house    and    others  that  were  next  to  it  were 

in  a  blaze ;  at  last  some  timid  person  called  out, 
that  *  the  magazine  was  on  fire,'  this  gave  the 
alarm  ;  every  one  took  fright,  both  British  and 
Americans,  and  instantly  broke  off  from  work,  and 
run  away  as  fast  as  possible  through  the  streets, 
throwing  down,  and  tumbling  over  each  other,  and 
others  coming,  after  tumbling  over  them,  in  endea- 
voring to  get  as  far  from  the  expected  explosion, 
as  possible  :  I  have  heard  some  of  them  say,  that 
although  they  were  so  confoundedly  frightened  at 
the  time,  they  could  not  keep  from  laughing,  to  see 
the  confusion  and  tumbling  over  each  other  :  the 
alarm  was  soon  brought  into  the  town  ;  I  was  then 
in  a  house,  joining  St.  Michael's  church,  with  some 
company  ;  I  advised  the  going  out  of  the  house,  and 
walking  to  South-bay,  because  I  was  apprehensive, 
from  the  great  shock  which  was  felt  in  the  houses, 
from  the  explosion  of  4,000  pounds  of  powder,  that, 
should  the  magazine  blow  up,  which  had  10,000 


Ill , 

pounds  of  powder  in  it,  many  of  the  houses  in  town 
would  be  thrown  down  :    on  my  way  thither,    I  met 
a  British  officer,    who  asked  me  how  much  powder 
was  in  the  magazine  ;  I  told  him    10,000  pounds: 
*  Sir,'  said  he,  'if  it  takes  fire,    it  will  blow  your 
town  to  hell !'    I  replied,    '  I  expected  it  would  give 
a  hell  of  a  blast!'     The  British  werexvery  much 
alarmed  at  the  explosion ;  all  the  troops  were  turned 
out  under  arms,  and  formed .    they  could  not  telj 
what  was  the  matter :  some  of  the  British  and  Hes- 
sian officers  supposed  it  was  designed  by  us  :  I  was 
abused,  and  taken  up  by  a  Hessian  officer  (whose 
guard  was  at  Broughton's-battery)  he  was  very  angry, 
and  said  to  me,  '  you,  General  Moultrie,  you  rebel's 
have  done  this  on  purpose,  as  they  did  at  New- York;' 
and  ordered  his  guard  to  take  me  a  prisoner,  into  a 
house  near,   and  placed  a  sentry  at  the  door,  where 
a  number  of  us  were   confined  ;    but  I   soon  got  a 
note  over  a  back  way,  to   General  Leslie,  acquaint- 
ing him  of  my  situation,  upon  which  he  immediately 
sent  one  of  his  aids  to  me,   with  an  apology,  that 
my  confinement  was  contrary  to  orders,  and  ordered 
the  sentry,  from  the  door :  after  a  little  time,  the 
alarm  subsided;  they   went  back,  and  stopped  the 
progress  of  the  fire  :  and  if  they  had  considered  for 
a  -moment,  they  would  have  found  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  the  magazine  to  take  fire  from  the 
adjacent  houses,  because  it  was  inclosed  with  a  high 


112 

brick  vail ;    and  the  magazine  itself  Yfas  built  of 
brick,  and  bomb  proof. 

To  GEN.  PATTERSON. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  June  15th,  1780. 

<  SIR, 

«  THK    surgeons,  at  Haddrell's-point,  represent 

*  to  me,    a  number  of  patients    under  inoculation  • 

*  and  many  down  with  the  yellow-fever ;  and  no  me- 

*  dicines,  or  the  common  necessaries  of  life,  to  as- 

*  sist  them  :  they  have  sent  a  list  of  such  medicines 
1  as  are  wanted,  to  the  surgeons  of  our  hospital,  who 

*  say  they  cannot  furnish  them,  being  only  supplied} 

<  from  time  to  time,  with  what  are  immediately  ne- 
«  cessary  :  and  we   are  unable  to  purchase  any,  for 
4  the  want  of  hard  money  :  I  am  therefore  to  request 
'  the  favor  of  you,  to  order  the  director-general   of 
4  your  hospital,  to  furnish   the  surgeons,  with  what 

*  medicines  may   be  necessary,  for  the  use  of  the 
'  officers  and  servants  at  Haddrell's-point. 

*  J  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sec. 

*  W.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

«  Si«,  June  16th,   1780. 

*  I  DO  myself  the  honor  of  informing  you,  that 

«  the  American  commissary  of  prisoners,  reports  to 

*  me,   that  the  British   commissary  refuses  issuing 


113 

<  provisions  to  the  prisoners  of  war,  as  the  returns 

*  from  Haddrell's-point,  exceed,  by  twenty-five,   the 

*  real  number :      the  reasons,    I  believe    to   be,    is 
t  in  the  drawing  rations  for  the  general  officers,  each 
'  drawing  six  rations  for  himself  and  servants,  when 
'  perhaps  they  have  only  one  or  two  servants  :  I  will 

*  inquire   and  have  the    matter  cleared  up.      The 
'  officers  at  Haddrell's-point,  are  irregularly  served 

*  with  provisions,  occasioned  by  the  uncertainty  of  a 
4  boat  at  the  precise  time  it  should  go  off,  which  is 
1  sometimes  attended  with  the  loss  of  tide  :  the  pre- 
«  sent  boat  is  used  with  great  risk,  both  to  the  men 
*and  provisions,    as  one  hand  is  almost  constantly 
c  employed  to  bale  :  I  am  therefore  to  request  the  fa- 

*  vor  of  you,  to  allow  the  officers  at  Haddrell's-point, 

*  to  be  supplied  with  provisions  weekly  ;  and  that 
'  you  will  be  pleased  to  order  the  deputy  quarter- 
1  master  general  to  furnish  the  American  commissa- 

*  ry  of  prisoners,  a  large  canoe,  for  that  purpose. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOVLTHIJE.' 


114 


Copy  of  a  Return  of  Prisoners  made  by  the  Britiia. 

RETURN  OF  THE  REBEL  FORCES,  COMMANDED  BY  MAJOR  GENF.RAL 
LINCOLN,  AT  THE  SURRENDER  OF  CHARLESTOWN,  THE  TWELFTH 
OF  MAY,  1780  i  NOW  PRISONERS  OF  V\AR. 


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Civil  List. 

General  Hospital 

Quarter  Master- 
General's  De- 

Commissary 
General's 

Staff. 

partment. 

Department. 

1  Lieut.  Gdvemorv 

2  Director-GeneraU 

Qj.  Master-Gen. 

1  Commissary 

3  Privy  Council, 
1  Commissary  of  Pur 
chases, 

4  Physicians   and 
Surgeons, 
J  Assist.  Surgeons, 

Assist  do. 
1  Dep.  do.  of  forage 
I  Do  of  Hides, 

General, 
1  Dep.  Commis- 
sary General, 

1  Clerk  of  the  House 
of  Representatives, 
1  A^st.mt  Judge, 
1  Sheriff, 
1  Clerk  of  Sessions, 

1  Apothecary-Gen. 
1  Apothecary, 
1  Apothecary's 

1  Chaplain, 

1  Waggon  Master- 
General, 
i  Waggon-Masters, 
1  Powd.  Inspector, 
1  Arsenal  Store- 

1 Conductor, 
I  Commissary   of 
Stores, 
1  Clerk  of  do. 
1  Conductor  of  do. 

1  Clerk  of  Pleas, 

"2  Purveyors, 

keeper, 

1  Ordinary, 

1  Paymaster, 

Purchaser  of 

1  Aud.  Gen.  of  accts 

•rus, 

Wood, 

1  Reg.  of  Conveyances 

1  Waggoner. 

2  Waggoners, 

1  Measeng.  of  Council, 

1  Stable-keeper, 

4  Clersymea. 

I  Conductor. 

115 

FROM   BRIG.  GEN.  PATTERSON. 

CHARLESTOWN,  June  17th,  1780, 

*  B.  G.  PATTERSON    presents  his    compliments  to 

*  General  Moultrie,    and  begs  he  will  do  him  the 

«  honor  to  call  at   his  quarters,    at   any  time  most 

1  convenient  to  him  this  afternoon.      He  should  wait 

<  upon  the  general  himself,  but  is  detained  at  home 
'  on   very    particular   business,    by  appointment    of 
t  several  gentlemen  of  the  town  and  coun'  ~y. 

'  Gen  MOULTRIE.' 

IN  the  afternoon,  I  waited  upon  General  Patterson 
who  received  me  very  politely  ;  he  wished  to  have 
some  conversation  with  me ;  he  said  he  had  had  a 
number  of  applications  from  our  citizens,  for  dif- 
ferent purposes,  and  wished  to  take  my  advice  and 
opinion  upon  them,  he  informed  me  he  was  entirely 
a  soldier,  and  very  little  acquainted  with  the  civil 
matters,  and  therefore  begged  to  have  some  con- 
versation with  me  respecting  the  prisoners  on  Had- 
drell's-point;  after  an  hour's  conversation,  I  left  him, 
and  he  very  politely  attended  me  down  the  stairs  to 
the  outer  door. 

FROM  GEN.  LINCOLN. 

«  CHARLESTOVTN,  May  18th,  1780. 

<  DEAR  SIR, 

'  THE  officers   go  this  morning  to  HaddrelPs- 


116 

6  point,  you  being  the  senior,  I  have  to.  request  that 
'  you  would  make  an  arrangement  of  the  barracks, 

*  and  see  that  justice  is  done  to  all  the  officers,  with 

*  respect  to  the  rooms. 

'  I  am,  dear  sir,  your's  sincerely, 
<  Gen.  MOUI.TRIE.  B.  LINCOLN.' 

WHEN  we  got  to  Haddre  ll's-point,  it  was  ve- 
ry difficult  to  get  quarters  in  barracks,  for  the 
number  of  officers  that  were  sent  over  ;  they  went 
to  the  neighboring  houses,  within  the  limits  of  their 
patroles*  ;  and  many  of  them  built  huts  about  in  the 
woods,  and  in  a  very  little  time,  were  comfortably 
settled  with  little  gardens  abcoit  them  :  the  number 
of  officers  (prisoners)  at  Haddrell's-point,  and  the  ad- 
jacent houses,  were  two-hundred  and  seventy-four, 
(Colonel  Pinckney  and  myself  were  in  excellent 
quarters,  at  Mr.  Pinckney 's  place,  called  Snee-farm) 
it  would  be  too  tedious  to  insert  their  names,  I  will 
only  give  a  general  return  of  all  ranks,  and  the  states 
to  which  they  belonged. 


*  I  was,  at  this  time,  .allowed  to  come  to  town  when  I 
pleased. 


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274 

GENERAL  Lincoln  was  furnished  with  a  vessel,  to 
carry  him,  and  his  suit,  to  Philadelphia  ;  but  before 
his  departure,  he  appointed  Captain  George  Turner, 
deputy  commissary  general  of  prisoners,  for  the 
southern  department,  who  was  allowed,  for  a  time, 
to  stay  in  Charlestown,  to  transact  the  business  of 
his  office. 

VOL.  ii.  o 


118 

To  CAPT.  TURNER. 

<  SIR,  '  SNKE-FARM,  May  28th,  1780. 

<  I  RECEIVED   your  favor  of  the   twenty-second 
1  instant,  in  which  you  recommend  the  appointing 

<  some  proper  person  to  act  as   issuing  commissary ; 

*  that  business  is   already  done  ;  but  I   am  sorry  to 
1  say,  that  our  provisions  are  very  irregularly  served 

*  out  to  us  ;  some  times  three  days'  bread,  and  two 
1  days'  meat ;  at  other  times,    half  day's  rations   of 

*  beef,  and  full  rations  of  flour :  in   short,  we  have 
1  been  almost  starved  :  crabs  and  fish,  have  support- 
1  ed  us  hitherto  :  a  very  few  of  the  officers  have  hard 
'  money  ;  and  if  they  had  they  could  not  purchase  any 

*  thing  here  ;  the   families  have  barely   sufficient  to 
1  support  themselves  :    the   officers   here  who    have 
« lately  come  from  the  Northward,   inform  it  is  cus- 
'  tomary  for  our  prisoners  with   the  British,  to  re- 

*  ceive  their  pay  in  hard  money  :    as  you   are  late- 

*  ly  from  there,  you  can  inform  us  how   that  matter 

*  is  ;  I  wish  it  could  be  brought  about  at  this  time. 
k  I  observe  you  sign  yourself  commissary  general  of 

*  prisoners  ;  I  shall  be  glad   to  know  what  instruc- 
'  tions  you  have,  relative  to  the  prisoners,  that  they 
4  may  apply  to  you  accordingly. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE. 
*  Capt.  GEORGE  TURNER, 
'  Dep.  Com.  Gen.  of  prisoners.' 


119 

THE  officers,  prisoners  at  Haddrell's-point,  were 
very  ungovernable  indeed,  and  it  was  not  much  to 
be  wondered  at,  when  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  them 
from  different  states,  were  huddled  up  together  in 
the  barracks,  many  of  them  of  different  dispositions, 
and  some  of  them  very  uncouth  gentlemen;  it  is 
not  surprising  that  their  should  be  continual  disputes 
among  them,  and  frequent  duels.  General  M'Intosh 
who  was  the  senior  officer  that  resided  constantly 
with  them,  complained  to  me  of  their  disorderly 
conduct  and  uncivil  behaviour  to  each  other,  upon 
which,  I  wrote  him  the  following  letter. 

'CHARLESTOWN,  June  26th,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

*  I  AM  sorry  to  be  informed  that  our  officers 
'  behave  so  much  amiss,  as  to  make  it  necesary  to 
(  hold  court  martials  over  them,  and  that  they  even 

*  dispute  any  authority  we  may  have  ;  I  am  there - 

*  fore  to  request,   that  you  will  let  them  know  that  I 
'  think  myself  fully  authorized  for  that  purpose,  not- 
'  withstanding  we  are  prisoners  of  war,  and  should 

*  any  disorders  happen,   you  will  apply  to  me,  and  I 
1  will  immediately  order  a  court  martial  to  be  held, 
'  and  approve  or  disapprove  as  I  shall  think  right, 

*  and  will  transmit  the  sentence  to  Congress,    for 


120 

*  their  approbation.    The  commandant*  of  the  British 
4  troops  agrees  -with    me  in  opinion  as  to  my  right, 

*  and  will   allow  me  to  send  a  flag  to  Congress  for 

*  that  purpose.     I   am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  the 
'  gentlemen  must  not  apply  for  any  more  indulgen- 

*  ces  for  the  present,  as  Mr.  Pendleton's  escape  has 
4  put  an  end  to  all  those  matters. 

4  1  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULT  R  IE. 
'Gen. 


HAVING  received  information  that  Doctor  Hous- 
ton, a  prisoner  of  war  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who 
had  permission  to  go  to  Georgia  upon  his  private 
business,  was  arrested  and  sent  to  jail  on  a  charge 
of  treason,  I  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  :... 

*  CHARLESTOWN,  June  29th,  1780. 
'  MY  LORD, 

'  I  HAVE  the  honor  to  inform  your  Lordship, 
1  that  Doctor  Houston,  a  continental  officer,  and 
'  prisoner  of  war  upon  parole  to  his  Excellency  Sir 
'  Henry  Clinton,  is  now  detained  in  Georgia  on  a 
'  charge  of  treason  ;  three  evidences  appear  against 
'  him,  who,  to  support  this  charge,  swear  they  saw 


Lord  Cornwallis. 


121 

'  him  in  the  American  camp,  when  that  place  was 

*  besieged,    aiding    and    assisting   the    French    and 
'  Americans  ;  my  Lord,  I  look  upon  it  my  duty  to 
'  require  his  discharge  from  his  Excellency  Sir  James 
<  Wright,  and  that  he  may  be  permitted  to  return 
«  to  the   hospital  in  Charlestown,  where  he  is  much 
'  wanted  ;  I  am  therefore  to  request  your  Lordship 
'  will  allow  me  to  write  to  Georgia  for  that  purpose. 

«  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULTRIE. 
<  Lord  CORNWALLIS.' 

FROM  LORD  CORNWALLIS'  AID. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  29th,  1780. 
<  SIR, 

*  THE  Earl  Cornwallis  has  directed  me  to  ac- 

*  quaint  you,  that  he  has  not  the  least  objection  to 

*  your  writing  to  Sir  James  Wright.* 

4  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

*  HENRY  HALDANE. 
1  Acting  as  aid-de-camp. 
1  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


*  Gov.  Wright  and  his  chief  justice,  had  just  arrived  at 
Savannah,  and  began  to  exercise  his  civil  functions  with  a  high 
hand,  before  the  military  had  arranged  their  matters,  which 
gave  great  offence  to  Col.  Clarke,  who  commanded  there,  as 
Lord  Cornwallis  informed  me. 


122 

To  GENERAL  PATTERSON. 

*  CHARLKSTOWN,  June  29th,   1780. 

»  SIR, 

«  COLONEL  Pinckney,  the  officer  appointed   to 

*  superintend  the  South   Carolina  line,   informs  me 
<  that  of  the  officers  who  were  left  with  him  for  that 

*  purpose,  one  of  them  is  dead,  and  two  others  very 

*  ill;  he  requests  Captain  Gadsden  may  be  permit. 
'  ted  to  come  to  town  to  assist  him  ;  I  therefore  will 

*  take  it  as  a  favor  if  he  may  be  allowed  to  come. 

'  I  am,  Sec. 

*  WM.  MOVLTRIE. 
'  GEN.  PATTERSON." 

WHEN  the  officers  were  first  ordered  over  to  Had- 
drell's-point,  four  from  each  line  were  allowed  to  re- 
main in  town,  to  take  care  that  the  sick  and  wound- 
ed were  not  neglected  ;  but  from  information  they 
had  received  of  some  misconduct  in  our  officers,  or 
Pendleton's  escape,  or  some  caprice,  I  cannot  tell 
which  :  I  received  the  following  order,  after  writing 
the  above  to  Gen.  Patterson. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  June  30th,  1780. 
{  BR  i  GAD  IER  General  Moultrie,  Brigadier  General 

*  Woodford  and  all  the  officers  now  prisoners  of  war, 
'  without   exception,    are  to  be  in  readiness  to  be 


123 

*  conveyed  from  Drayton's-wharf,*  to  morrow  morn- 

*  ing  at    six  o'clock,    where    they  are    to   remain 
{  until  further  orders.    The  servants  that  are  now  al- 

<  lowed  at   Haddrell's-point,    are    to  remain    there, 

*  provided  General  Moultrie  makes  himself  absolutely 

*  responsible  for  their  being  accounted  for  in  the 

*  exchange  of  prisoners :  should  any  of  them  desert 
1  from  Haddrell's-point  they  are  on  no  account  to  be 

*  replaced.     All  indulgence  of  working  is  to  be  im- 

*  mediately  stopped.     Orders  are  issued  for  appre- 

*  hending  all  prisoners  that  may  be  seen  in  town 
4  without  a  pass  from  Mr.  de  Rossette  commissary 

*  of  prisoners.     The  rolls  of  the  prisoners  are  to  be 

<  called  by  the  commissary  or  his  deputy  every  morn- 
'  ing  and  evening,  and  the  -officer  commanding  the 
(  guard  is  to  be  accountable  for  any  deficiencies.  Any 
4  prisoner  who  shall  attempt  to  make  his  escape  will 

*  be  confined  on  board  of  a  prison-ship. 

'  By  order  of  Brig.  Gen.  Patterson,  Comdt. 

*  J.  MONBY.  Town  Major.' 

To  Gov.  WRIGHT. 

*  CHARLETOWN,  June  30th,  1780. 

1 1  HAVE  just  now  received  certain  information  from 

'  Doctor  Houston,  an  officer  in  the  continental  service, 


*  Wrag's  wharf,  where  Colonel  Drayton  deputy  quarter- 
master-general  kept  his  boats  and  carts,  while  he  lived  in  Mr. 
Manigault's  house, 


124 

»  of  his  being;  a  prisoner  in  your  stale,  and  arrested 

*  for  treason  by  Anthony  Stokes,  Esq.   chief  justice 

*  of  Georgia  ;    the  evidences  against  him   are  three 
4  persons,  who  swear  they  saw  him  in  the  American 

*  camp,  aiding  and  assisting  the  French  and  Ameri- 
4  cans  at  the  time  of  the  siege  ;  if  this  be  his  charge, 
«  I  warn  you  of  the  consequences  of  proceeding  on 
c  the  trial,  as  should  any  injury  be  done  his  person, 

*  retaliation  will  certainly  be  made  by  Congress  and 

*  their  allies,  on  the  subjects  of  his  Britannic  majesty. 
'  I  inform  you,   he  is  a  prisoner  upon  parole,  to  his 

*  Excellency     Sir    Henry   Clinton,      and    had     his 

*  leave    to    go  to  Georgia  to  settle  some  business, 
«  and  to  return  agreeably  to  his  parole  ;   I  therefore, 

*  require  his  releasment  from  you. 

*  I  have  the  hoBor  to  be,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE. 

*  His  Ex.  Sir  JAMBS  WRIGHT.' 

THIS  letter  was  sent  open  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  who 
ordered  it  on  to  Sir  James  Wright,  to  which  I  re- 
ceived no  answer,  but  Doctor  Houston  was  imme- 
diately released. 

FROM  CAPT.  TURNER. 

*  CHARLESTOWM,  June  30th,  1780. 
<  SIR, 

*  I  HAVE  been  honored  with  your  letter  of  this 


125 

*  morning,  in  which  are  these  words  :  *  As  you  sent 

*  me  word  by  Major  Doctor  Ellient  that  you  did  not 

*  think  yourself  accountable  to  me   for  your  conduct 
4  as  commissary  of  prisoners,  I   shall  appoint  some 

<  other  person.'     Give  me   leave  to  say,  that  the  ap- 
4  pointing  of  another  te  the  office,  under  present  cir- 
4  cumstances,  would  create  in  me,  no  chagrin :  un- 
c  provided  as  the  department  is,  with  every  necessa- 

<  ry,  I  have  found  it  a  troublesome   and  unthankful 

*  office  ;  and  nothing  but  the  hopes  of  hearing  from 

*  Congress,  and  a  wish  to  serve  my  fellow  prisoners, 

*  induced  me  to  continue  in  it :    as  to  the  right  of 
4  displacing  me,  I   deny   that  it   rests  in   any  body 
4  here  ;  I  hold  myself  accountable  to  none  but  Con- 
i  gress  ;  the  commander  of  the  southern  department  ; 

*  and  the  commissary   general  of  prisoners  ;  and  for 

*  your  further  satisfaction,  I  beg  leave  to  inclose  you 

*  a  copy  of  my  appointment.     The  message  brought 

*  me  this  morning  by  your  major  of  brigade,  was 

*  to  this  effect :    that  you  desired  of  me  my  account 

<  current,    which   you   would  transmit  to  Congress 
4  by  the  same  opportunity  that  conveys  your  letter 

*  concerning  Mr.  Pendleton's  breach  of  parole  :    I 

<  did  not  conceive  this  a  proper  demand,  and  there- 

*  fore  desired  Major  Doctor  Ellient  to  inform   you, 

*  that  I,    myself,    would    transmit    what    accounts 

*  I  had  to  Congress  ;  and  beg  to  know  if  they  could 
4  be  sent  with  your  dispatches.     Before  I  conclude? 

VOL.  II.  R 


126 

«  permit  me  to  observe,  sir,  that  I  believe  I  have  acted 

*  up  to  my  duty,  and  that  you  will  not  impute  to  my 

'  conduct,  any    personal  pique,   or  the  want  of  re- 

L  t,  which  I  have  always  had  for  your  character. 

4  I  am,  Sec. 

*  GEORGE  TURNER, 
<  Gen.  MOVLTRIE.'  D.  C.  P.  S.  D. 

A  FEW  days  ago,  when  Mr.  Justice  Pendleton 
violated  his  parole,  and  left  Charlestown,  Lord 
Cornwallis  sent  a  message  over  to  me  at  Haddrell's- 
point,  requesting  to  see  me  ;  upon  which,  the  next 
day,  I  waited  upon  him,  at  General  Patterson's  quar- 
ters :  (Mr.  Motte's  house)  I  was  received  by  Lord 
Cornwallis  and  General  Patterson,  very  politely  in 
the  drawing-room,  up  stairs  ;  after  some  little  con- 
versation respecting  his  rout  through  our  back  coun- 
try, and  telling  me  what  a  fine  country  we  had,  and 
that  he  had  taken  all  our  stores,  laid  in  different 
places ;  he  then  informed  me  that  Mr.  Pendleton 
had  broke  his  parole,  and  was  gone  off;  he  therefore 
hoped  I  would  order  him  back,  or  the  prisoners  at 
Haddrell's-point  should  suffer  for  it :  upon  which  I 
told*  him,  I  was  not  accountable  for  any  man's  pa- 
role but  my  own  :  he  said  he  had  a  right  to  discri- 
minate, and  take  some  one  in  confinement,  for  Mr. 
Pendleton  :  I  told  him  he  might  do  as  he  pleased, 
Hut  that  his  lordship  was  too  much  of  a  soldier,  not 


127 

to  know  that  every  one  was  accountable  but  for  his 
own  parole,  and  for  no  other ;  besides,  that  Mr. 
Pendleton  was  a  civil  officerj  I  therefore  could  have 
nothing  to  do  with  him  :  I  told  his  lordship  that  I 
would  write  to  Congress,  for  them  to  decide  upon 
the  matter :  upon  which  he  was  satisfied,  and  said 
he  would  forward  the  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton ; 
which  letter  I  wrote,  dated  the  thirtieth  of  June,  and 
sent  it  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  forwarded  it  to  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  ;  and  by  him,  sent  to  the  President, 
who  laid  my  letter  before  Congress  ;  and  upon  in- 
vestigating the  matter,  they  passed  a  resolve, 
justifying  Mr.  Pendleton's*  conduct ;  and  sent  a  copy 
of  the  resolve,  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 

To  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  CONGRESS. 

«  CHARLESTOWN,  June  30th,  1T8O. 
«  SIR, 

<  I  HAVE  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  a  few 
'  days  ago,  information  was  officially  laid  before  me, 
'  by  his  Excellency  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  the  Honora- 


*  Mr.  Pendleton's  case  was  this  :  that  the  day  he  made  his 
escape,  he  was  informed  by  a  friend,  who  had  it  from  a  Bri- 
tish officer,  (Captain  Constable)  that  if  he  did  not  get  away 
that  day,  it  was  determined,  by  a  party  of  torics  (William 
Holiiday,  who  kept  the  corner  tavern,  at  their  head)  to  take 
him  from  his  quarters  that  night,  and  hang  him  at  the  town 
gate.  Mr.  Pendleton  counterfeited  Major  Benson's  hand, 
and  made  out  his  pass,by  which  he  got  off. 


128 

c  ble  Brigadier  General  Patterson,  commandant  of 
«  Charlestown,  of  the  departure  of  Mr.  Justice  Pen- 
1  dleton,  one  of  the  judges  of  this  state,  from  Charles- 

*  town,  in  violation  of  his  parole,  given  by  him,  as  apri- 

*  soner  of  war,  to  his  Excellency  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
'  shortly  after  the  surrender  of  this  place  ;  and  I  was 

*  desired,  as  I  think  it  my  duty  to  do,  to  lay  the  same 
«  before  the  honorable  the  Continental  Congress. 

*  SUCH  a  violation  of  honor,  as  well  as  those  rules 

*  and  principles  which  all  civilized  nations  have  esta- 

*  blished  and  ever  held  sacred  in  the  conduct  of  war, 

*  I  am  sure  by  the  respectable  body  over  which  you 

*  preside  will  be  deemed  highly  criminal,  and  as  me- 
'  riting  the  severest  punishment  ?  as  in   its  conse- 
»  quence  the  misery  of  thousands  may  be  involved ; 

*  and  such  an  offence  is  an  injury  to  mankind  in 

*  general. 

«  I  HAVE  also,  Sir,  to  inform  you,  it  is  the  earnest 

*  desire  and  expectation  of  his  Excellency  Lord  Corn- 

*  wallis  and  the  Hon.  Brig.  Gen.  Patterson,  that  the 
«  Hon.  the  Continental  Congress  do  interpose  in  this 
<  affair,  and  give  the  speedy  remedy  which  is  due  in 
'  such  cases  by  laws  of  nations  and  of  war ;   and 
'  which  they  have  formaly  demanded  through  me  ; 
(  intimating,  at  the  same  time,  that  unless  Mr.  Jus- 

*  tice   Pcndleton  is  by  authority  ordered  immedi- 
1  ately  to  return  to  his  parole,  the  prisoners  now  on 
1  parole  will  suffer  for  this  offence. 


129 

«  I  THINK  it  my  duty  also,  Sir,  to  intimate  to  you 
«  that  the  situation  of  the  continental  hospital,  and 

<  the  officers  and  privates,  prisoners  of  war,  is  truly 
'  distressing,  and  such  as  calls  for  the  immediate  at- 
f  tention  of  Congress  :    as  the  bills  left  by    Major 
«  General  Lincoln,  on  his  departure  from  this  place, 
'  cannot  be  negociated,  the  hospital  department,  and 
4  the    army,    now  prisoners,   must  want  every  ne- 

*  cessary  and  comfort,    intended  fpr  them    by  the 
'  transfer  of  those  bills  ;  and  at  a  time,  when,  from 

<  the  inclemency  of  the  season  and  climate,  and  the  x 
'  hardships  those  men    have   already    experienced, 

*  humanity,    would  make   every  exertion,  to  soften 

*  the  hardships  of  war,  and  the  rigor  of  captivity  to 
1  the  brave,    and   the   good  soldier  :    I   would  therc- 

*  fore  recommend,  that  the  Congress  do,  as  speedily 
'  as  possible,  obtain  permission  of  a  flag  to  Charles- 
'  town,  by  sea ;  in  order  to  make  the  necessary  pro- 

<  vision  for  the  army  here,  and  particularly  the  hos- 

*  pital ;  in  such  manner  as  may  appear  most  expe- 
1  dientand  proper,  either  by  a  transmission  of  money, 
'  or  of  bills,  for  the  purchase  of  those   necessaries, 
'  so  much  required. 

'  CAPTAIN  George  Turner,  of  the  first  South-Ca- 
«  rolina  regiment  of  foot,  is  appointed  commissary 
'  of  prisoners,  by  Major  General  Lincoln,  for  the 
f  American  army  here  :  the  bills  of  exchange*  left 

*  Fifteen  hundred  pounds  sterling. 


130 

«  by  General  Lincoln,  for  the  array,  were  given  to 
«  him,  to  be  negociated  for  that  purpose ;  but  holding 

*  himself  in  no  wise  accountable  to  me  for  his  trans- 

*  actions  in  that  department,  I    shall  therefore  ap- 
«  point  another,    until  the   pleasure  of  Congress  is 

*  known. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRII* 
'  His  Ex.  SAMUEL  HUNTINCTOK, 

'  President  of  Congress.1 

FROM  CAPT.  ROBERTS. 

«  SIR, 

« I  THINK  it  incumbent  on  me  to  acquaint  you, 
«  for  the  information  of  the  general,  that  the  conduct 
<  of  the  rebels  at  the  barracks  at  Haddrell's-point, 
'  during  the  course  of  this  night,  has  been  very  irre- 
'  gular  and  improper.  Not  contented  to  celebrate 
'  this  day,  of  their  supposed  Independence,  with 
4  music,  illuminations,  Sec.  they  have  presumed  to 

*  discharge  a  number  of  small  arms  ;  which,  I  ima- 

*  gine,  it  is  thought  they  were  not  (nor  indeed  ought 
'  not  to  be,  by  the  articles  of  capitulation)  to  be  in 
'  possession  of. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

'  J.  B.  ROBERTS, 

*  Captain  of  the  sixty-fifth  regiment ; 

'  Commanding  at  Fort  Arbuthnot.* 
'  Major  BEXSOX. 


Fort  Moultric. 


131 

FROM  GEN.  PATTERSON. 

4  CHARLES  TOWN,  July  6th,  1780* 

<  SIR, 

<  I  AM  extremely  mortified  to  find  myself 

*  under  the  necessity  to    transmit  to  you,    the  en- 

*  closed,*  and  in  consequence  of  it,  to  beg,  sir,  that 
'  you  will  be  pleased  immediately  to  make  the  most 
1  particular  inquiry  ;  and  report  upon  it,  for  the  in- 

*  formation  of  the  commander  in  chief,  who  is  very 
4  much  displeased,  to  see  such  an  indecent  abuse  of 
{  lenity. 

<  I  MUST  also,  sir,  insist  upon  it,  that  the  officers 

*  do  immediately,  and  without  exception,  deliver  up 

<  all  their  fire-arms  to  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort 
i  Arbuthnot. 

*  As  soon  as  I  am  honored  with  your  answer  and 

<  report,  a  court-martial  shall  proceed  to  Haddrell's- 
1  point,  to  examine  into  the  particular  circumstances 

s 

f  and  persons,  concerned  in  this  gross  outrage. 
«  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

'  J.  PATTERSON, 

«  Commandant. 

*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.* 


Captain  Roberts' letter. 


132 

To  GEN.  PATTERSON. 
CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  July  6tb, 

'  Half-past  seven  o'clock,  P.  M. 
«  SIR, 

1  As  I  am  quartered  five  miles  from  the  bar- 

<  racks,  I  did  not  receive  your  letter  of  this  morn- 
1  ing  (inclosing  one  from  Captain  Roberts,  to  Major 
•Benson)  until  this  moment :  I    will  do  myself  the 

*  honor  of  answering  it  more  particularly,    to  mor- 

*  row.  *  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE. 
1  Brig.  Gen.  PATTERSON.' 

To  THE  SAME. 

<  CHRIST-CHURCH,  July  7th,  1780. 
'  SIR, 

'  IN  answer  to  your  letter  of  yesterday  with 
4  which  you  were  pleased  to  honor  me,  I  am  to  in- 

*  form  you,  that  every  continental  officer  in  Christ- 

<  church  parish  who  was  well  attended  at  the  bar- 

*  racks  at  Haddrell's-point,  in  order  to  celebrate  with 

*  decent  festivity  the  anniversary  of  the  Declaration 

<  of  Independence,    I  had  the  satisfaction  of  being 

<  there,  and  can  assure  you  I  saw  no  "  indecent  abuse, 
'  or  gross  outrage  "  in  any  manner  committed  :  with 

*  regard  to  music,  except  two  or  three  fifes  which 
t  played  the  Call  for  Dinner,  there  was  none  but  what 

*  was  brought  by  a  person  in  your  service,  who  with 


133 

t  two  others  and  some  women  danced  for  two  or  three 

*  hours  in  one  of  the  rooms  in  the  barracks,  and  went 

*  away  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     At  five 

*  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  departed,  and  am  informed, 

*  that  at  eight  some  of  the  windows  in  the  barracks 

*  were  illuminated ;  I  am  sorry  to  find  that  some  pis- 
4  tols  were  fired,   which,   at  the  same  time,  I  disap- 

<  prove;  I  hope  you  will  impute  this  to  no  intended 
f  affront,  but  to  that  exhilaration  of  spirit  which  in 

<  young  men  is  too  frequently  the  effect  of  convivial 

<  entertainments.     This,  sir,  is  a  candid  statement  of 

*  the  transaction  of  the  4th  instant;  and  I  am  at  a  loss 

*  to  conceive  wherein  we  have  so  grossly  erred  in 
1  celebrating  that  day.     It  was  by  no  means  incon- 

*  sistent  with  our  paroles  to  do  so  ;  and  the  celebra- 

*  tion  of  particular  festivals,  even  by  prisoners,  is  not 

*  uncommon.     I  go  no  further  back  than  the  present 

*  war;  the  British  troops  have  given  us  several  pre- 

<  cedents  of  it ;  the  seventh  regiment,  now  in  Charles- 

<  ton,  celebrated  the  anniversary  of  St.  George's  day 

*  when  prisoners  at    Carlisle ;    and   the    convention 
'  troops  kept  the  birth-day  of  his  Britannic  majesty 

<  both  in  the  years  73  and  79,  without  the  harsh  ani- 

*  madversion  of  "indecent  abuse  of  lenity  "and  "gross 

<  outrage."    With  regard  to  that  part  of  your  letter 
1  wherein  you   require  me  to  order  all  the  officers, 
'  without    exception,  to  give  up  their  fire-arms  ;  be- 

*  fore  I  do  any  thing  in  that  matter,  I  must  beg  leav* 

VOL,  ii.  s 


134 

*  to  observe,  that  by  one  of  the  articles  of  capitula- 

*  tion,  the  officers   are  to   keep  their  pistols  ;  nor,  in 
1  my  humble  apprehension,    can  they    be  deprived  of 

*  them    without  a  violation  of  that   article.    As  to 
'  their  fuzees,    they  were  not  fired  on  the   fourth 
4  instant  ;  and  I,  some  time  ago,  delivered  you  a  let- 

*  ter,    written  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  order,     and 

*  signed  by   Major  Andre  ;    wherein  his  excellency 
'  permitted  the  officers  to    amuse  themselves  with 

*  their  fuzees.    Upon  the  whole  of  this  matter,  when 
'  my  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  General  Patterson,  come 
'  to  review  this  affair,  I  trust  they  will  not  take  it  in 
'  the  light,  they  seem  to  have    done  ;  that  they  will 

*  not  imagine  any  gross  outrage  was  meant,  where 
'  none  was  intended  ;  but  impute  it  to  the  warmth  of 

*  a  cause  which  the  continental  officers  at  Haddrell's- 

*  point  have   embraced  through  principle  ;  in  which 

*  some  of  them  bled  ;  and  for  which  all  of  them  are 

*  now  suffering. 

*  1  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

*  WAI.  MOULTRIE. 
*  Gen.  PATTERSON.' 

FROM  GEN.  PATTERSON. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  July  9th,   1780. 
'  SIR, 

'  I  SHALL,  for  the  present,  decline  entering  in- 
<  to  the  propriety  of  your  letter  to  me  of  the  seventh 


135 

•'  instant,  on  occasion  of  the  festivity,  in  commemo- 
<  ration  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  cele- 
'  brated  by  the  officers  at  Haddrell's-point:  their 

*  situation  as  prisoners  of  war,    I   apprehend,  gives 

*  us  a  right,  by  every  law  of  nations,  and  of  war,  to 

*  expect  from  them,  a  decent  behavior  ;  far  short  of 
'  illuminations,  and  other  irregular   demonstrations 
1  of  joy  ;  and   I   think  it  my  duty  to  shew  my  dis- 
'  approbation  of  their  conduct,  by  immediately  with. 
'  drawing  the  indulgence  granted  them,  of  being  al- 
'  lowed  their  fowling-pieces  :  I  am  therefore,  sir,  to 
'  insist  upon   their  being  forthwith  delivered   up  to 
'  the  officer  commanding  at  Fort  Arbuthnot. 

4  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  8cc. 

*  J.  PATTERSON. 

*  Commandant. 
i  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


To  GEN.  M'INTOSH. 

«  SNEE-FARM,  July  10th,   1780. 
1  DEAR  SIR, 

'  As  General  Patterson  declines  entering  into 
'  the  propriety  of  my  letter,  on  the  seventh  instant  ; 
1  he  thinks  it  his  duty,  immediately  to  withdraw  the 
'  indulgence  granted  the  officers,  of  being  allowed 
'  their  fowling-pieces.  I  am  therefore  to  request  you 
'  will  order  all  the  officers,  immediately  to  deliver  up 
'  to  you  their  fowling-pieces  (each  officer  marking 


136 

*  his  own  piece)  and  send  them  over  to  the  officer, 

<  commanding    on  Sullivan's-Island,    that  you  may 
'  have  them  ready  to  deliver  to  his  order. 

1 1  am,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULTRIE. 

To  CAPT.  ROBERTS. 

*  SNBE-FARM,  July  12th,  1780* 
4  SIR, 

*  IN  consequence  of  a  requisition  from  General 

*  Patterson,  I  have  directed  such  of  the  officers  at 
4  Haddrell's-point,  as  have  fowling-pieces,  to  deliver 

*  them  to  General  M'Intosh,  who  resides  at  the  bar- 

*  racks  ;  and  have  desired  him,  as  soon  as  they  are 

*  brought  in,   to  acquaint  the  commanding  officer 
1  on  Sullivan's-Island  with  it,  that  they  may  be  deli- 

<  vered  to  his  order. 

1 1  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

ORDERS  RECEIVED  FROM  THE  COMMANDANT. 

4  August  6th,  1780, 

'  THE  commandant,  being  determined,  rigidly  to 
adhere  to  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  on  his  part, 
expect  they  will  be  as  rigidly  adhered  to  on  the  part 
of  the  prisoners. 

4  No  officer,  under  the  rank  of  a  general  officer, 
can  be  allowed  to  keep  a  horse,  unless  his  state  of 


137 

health  is  such  as  demands  it ;  in  which  case,  a  cer- 
tificate from  a  physician,  will  be  required,  and  an  or- 
der from  the  commandant,  be  obtained  for  that  pur- 
pose. Such  horses  as  are  the  property  of  persons 
not  in  the  above  direction,  must  be  immediately  dis- 
posed of:  such  as  are  not  claimed  as  property,  are 
to  be  delivered  up  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
fort ;  and  such  as  have  been  taken  from  the  inhabi- 
tants, are  to  be  returned  to  them  immediately. 

<  ALL  complaints  and  applications,  in  order  to 
their  being  regurlarly  attended  to,  are  requested  to 
be  made  in  writing,  through  the  commissary  of  pri- 
soners, to  the  commandant,  by  the  general  officer 
commanding. 

*  A  DEPUTY  commissary   of  prisoners  will  be  or- 
dered on  the  Point,  to  facilitate  the  above. 

*  ORDERS  will  be  given  to  the  commissary  of  pri- 
soners, to  grant  powder  to  the  prisoners,  restricting 
them  to  the  limits  of  six  miles  from  the  Point  ;  not 
crossing  any  creek,  river,  or  branch  of  the  sea  (gene- 
ral officers  excepted)     who  have  the  range  of  the 
parish,  without  the  above  restriction. 

'  No  more  than  one  servant,  can  be  allowed  to 
each  officer  (general  officers  excepted,  who  will  be 
allowed  three).  Such  servants  as  desert,  cannot  be 
replaced ;  but  any  officer  detecting  his  servant 
in  the  attempt,  on  his  delivering  him  up  to  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Fort  Arbuthnot,  taking  his  receipt, 


133 

and  sending  it  to  the  commissary  of  prisoners  ;  will 
have  one  ordered  to  him. 

(Signed)  '  G.  BENSON, 

*  Major  of  Brigade.' 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

'  September  1st,  1780. 
<  SIR, 

1  ON  perusing  the  paper  of  the  29th  August  of 

*  Robertson,  M'Donald,  and  Cammeron,  published 
4  by  authority,  to  my  astonishment  I   find  a  para- 

*  graph  to  this  effect :  "  The  following  is  a  correct 
'  list  of  prisoners  sent  on  board  the  Sandwich  yester- 
'  day  morning,"   and   underneath,   the   names   of  a 
4  number  of  the  most  respectable    gentlemen,  inha- 
1  bitants  of  this  state;  most  of  whose  characters  I 

*  am  so  well  acquainted  with  that  I  cannot  believe 
'  they  would  hare  been  guilty  of  any  breach  of  their 
1  paroles,  or  any  article  of  the  capitulation,  or  done 
'  any  thing  to  justify  so  rigorous  a  proceeding  against 
4  them :  I  therefore  think   it  my  duty,  as  the  senior 
'  continental  officer,  prisoner  under  the  capitulation, 

*  to  demand  a  release  of  those  gentlemen,  particular- 
«  ly  such  as  are  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  that  act. 

*  This  harsh  proceeding  demands  my  particular  at- 
1  tention  ;  and  I  do,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  the  Unit- 
'  ed  States  of  America  require  that  they  be  admitted 
'  immediately  to  return  to  their  paroles  ;  as  their  be- 


139 

{  ing  hurried  on  board  a  prison-ship,  and,  I  fear, 
'  with  out  being  heard,  is  a  violation  of  the  9th  arti- 
'  cle  of  the  capitulation.  If  this  demand  cannot  be 

*  complied  with,   I  am  to  request  that  I  may  have 

*  leave  to  send  an  officer  to  Congress  to  represent 
'  this  grievance,  that  they  may  interpose  in  behalf  of 
'  these  gentlemen  in  the  manner  they  shall  think 
'  proper. 

*  I  am,  8cc. 

1  WM.  MOULT R IE. 

ANSWER  TO  THE  PRECEDING  LETTER. 

*  CHARLESTOWN,  September  4th.  1780. 
<  SIR, 

£  THE  Commandant  will  not  return  any  an- 

*  swer  to  a  letter  wrote     in  such    exceptionable  and 
'  unwarrantable  terms  as  that  to  him  from  Gen.  Moul- 
'  trie,  dated  the   1st  instant;   nor  will  he  receive  any 

*  further  application  from  him  upon  the  subject  of  it. 

1  By  order  of  the  Commandant. 

«  G.  BENSON, 
*  Major  of  Brigade. 
1  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 
<  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  Oct.  16th,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

t  HOWEVER  my  letters  may  be  thought  by  you 


140 

« to  be  wrote  in  "  exceptionable  and  unwarrantable 
«  terms,"  yet  I  cannot  be  deterred  from  representing 
«  matters  of  such  consequence,  as  I  am  now  con- 
«  strained  to  do,  in  the  strongest  manner:  though  it 
'  is  indifferent  to  me  whether  I  write  to  you  or  the 
<  commissary  of  prisoners  on  trifling  applications  ;  yet 

*  when  my  duty  calls  upon  me  loudly  to  remonstrate 

*  against  a  proceeding  of  so  high  a  nature  as  a  viola- 

*  lion  of  a  solemn  capitulation,   I  then  think  it  ne- 

*  cessary  to  make  application  as   near  the  fountain 

*  head  as  possible  ;  I  therefore,  sir,   address  myself 

*  to  you  to  complain  of  a  great  breach  of  the  capitu- 

*  lation  in  sending  the  continental  soldiers  on  board 

*  of  prison-ships  (the  truth  of  which  I  have  not  the 

*  least  doubt  of)   as  part  of  the  agreement  for  which 
'  the  town  was  delivered  up  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton 

*  was,  that  the  continental  soldiers  should  be  kept 

*  in  some  contiguous  buildings  in  the  town,  as  ap- 
4  pears  by  the  following  extract  from  their  Excel- 

*  lencies'  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot's 
«  letter  of  the  1 2th  May,  1780,  antecedent  to  the  sur- 

*  render. 

"SIR, 

"  WE  have  to  request  you  will  propose  some 
'  proper  contiguous  buildings  in  the  town  for  the  re- 

*  aidence  of  the  private  prisoners  of  war  not  to  be 
'  upon  parole  ;  these  will  be  of  course  such  as  may 

in  discretion  be  asked."    The  barracks  and  some 


141 

«  adjacent  houses  were  then  proposed  and  agreed 
'  upon ;  as  a  proof  of  which  the  soldiers  have  been 
'  confined  in  those  buildings  from  the  very  instant  of 

*  the  surrender   until  this  present  removal,  which  I 
«  do  most  solemnly  protest  against,  and  complain  to 

*  you,  sir,  of  a  direct  violation  of  the  third  article  of 

*  the  capitulation,  and  demand  that  the  continental 
<  soldiers  be  ordered  back  to  the  barracks  and  other 
'  houses  in  which  they  were   first  confined.     In  this 
c  demand  I  think  I  am  clearly  within  the  line  of  my 

*  duty,  as  well  as  in  the  demand  I  made  for  the  citi- 

*  zens  on  the  first  of  September  last;  and  though  they 

*  may  not    appear    to  you     in    the   same  military 
4  view,  yet   Lord  Cornwallis  and  General  Patterson 

*  would  have  held  them  clearly  so,  as  they  insisted 
'  I  should  write  to  Congress  respecting  Mr.  Pendle- 

*  ton's  breach  of  parole,  and  considered  me  answera- 
4  ble  for  the  whole   militia  in  town,  at  the  time  of 
'  the   capitulation,  as  being  the  senior   officer  after 
1  General  Lincoln's  departure  from  hence.     Should 
'  I  be  as  unfortunate  in  this  demand,  as  in  that  made 

*  for  the  citizens,  I  shall  rest  myself  satisfied,  that  I 
'  have  done  my  duty ;  and  as   these  matters  may  be 
(  discussed  at  some  future   day,  I    flatter  myself! 
1  shall  stand  acquitted  to  the  world  of  any   charge 

*  of  neglect  on  my  part. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

VOL.    II.  T 


U2 

THIS  letter  was  delivered  by  Major  Doctor  Ellient, 
who  received  a  verbal  answer  from  the  commandant, 
'  That  he  would  do  as  he  pleased  with  the  prisoners 
«  for  the  good  of  his  majesty's  service  ;  and  not  as 

*  General  Moultrie  pleases.' 

FROM  DOCTOR  OLIPHANT. 

<  CHARLESTOWN,  Nov.  14th,  1780. 

*  DEAR  GENERAL, 

1  I  SEND  by  the  bearer  the  few  articles  you  re- 
«  quire.  Inclosed  is  the  return  of  our  sick  for  last 
<  month  ;  the  mortality  is  great ;  by  much  the  greater 

*  number  of  deaths  happen  to  those  patients  from  on 
'  board  the  prison-ships  :    within  these  three   days, 

*  there  is  an  appearance  of  a  jail  fever  from  the  ship 
'  Concord  ;  she  has  been  a  prison  ship  throughout 
1  the  summer.     No  less  than  nine  of  the  sick,  sent 

*  from  that  ship,  died  in  the  space  of  24  hours;  all 

*  of  them  bearing  the  appearance  of  a  putrid  malig- 

*  nant  fever.     The  unfortunate  sufferers  are  the  mi- 

*  litia  sent  from  Camden.     I  am  much  at  a  loss  how 

*  to  act  in  these  our  times  of  distress  ;  my  confine- 
4  ment  renders  me  incapable  of  giving  such  attend- 

*  ance  or  service  as  I  wish  or  ought  to  do.     I  have 

*  no  person  to  look  up  to  but  you,  sir ;  therefore   I 

*  crave  and  entreat  your  assistance. 

*  I  am,  8cc. 

«  D.  OLIPHANT. 
1  Gen.  MOULTJIIE.' 


143 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

1  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,   22d  Nov.  1780. 

<SlR, 

*  BY  a  letter  from  Dr.  Oliphant,  and  by  returns 

*  from  our  general  hospital,  I  am  exceedingly  shock- 
'  ed  to  know  of  so  great  a  mortality  among  our  un- 

*  fortunate  prisoners;  I  cannot  tell  to  what  cause  to 
<  attribute  it  ;  but  our  Director  General  (on  whom 
(  we  principally  depended  for  the  good  order  and 
'  well  governing  of  our  hospital)  being  so  long  con- 

*  fined  to  his  house  by  the  board  of  police,   conse- 

*  quently  could  not  attend  to  his  duty  where  he  was 
'  so  much  wanted.     I  was  led  to  believe,   some  time 

*  ago,  by  a  letter  from  Dr.  Fraser,  that  it  never  was 
'  your  intention  to  prevent  Dr.  Oliphant  attending 
'  the  hospital :  yet  still  he  is  restrained.     I  am  so  af- 
(  fected  at  the  distresses  of  our  poor  soldiers,  that  I 
e  am  at  a  loss  how  to  address  you  on  the  subject ; 

*  but  I  must  begin  by  calling  on  your  humanity,  and 
4  request  you,  for  God's  sake,  to  permit  Dr.  Oliphant 

*  to  attend  the  hospital  whenever  he  shall  judge  it 
'  necessary  :   and  also  beg  you  will  order  the  pri- 

*  soners  from  on  board  the  Concord  ship    (where 

*  they  are  infected  with  the  jail  fever)  to  some  other 
£  vessels,  if  they  cannot  be  permitted  to  be  on  shore. 

*  I  am.  Sec. 

«  WM.  MOULT R IE.' 


144 

FROM  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 
«  CHARLKSTOWN,  Nov.  28th,   1780. 

<  Si*, 

*  I  HAVE  received  your  letter  of  the  22d  inst. 

*  in  which  you  so  pathetically  call  upon  me  to  grant 
'  permission  to  Dr.  Oliphant  to  attend  your  hospital 
»  whenever  he  shall  judge  it  necessary,  as  you  ap- 

*  prehend,  his  not  attending  to  his  duty,  as  the  di- 

*  rector  general  of  it,   by  reason  of  the  restraint  he 
'  is  laid  under  by  the  board  of  police,  has  been  one 

*  of  the  principal  causes  of  the   general   mortality, 

*  which  you  say  rages  among  the  prisoners. 

*  I  ASSURE  you,  sir,  that  whenever,  with  proprie- 
'  ty,  and  consistent  with  my  duty,  I  can  remedy 
»  even  an  ideal  grievance,  my  inclination  sufficiently 
1  inclines  me  to  it ;  therefore,  although  I  do  not 
'  think  that  Doctor  Oliphant's  absence,  has  been 
'  materially  injurious  to  the  hospital,  no  objection 

*  ever  lay  with  me  to  his   having  visited  it,  at  pro- 

*  per  times,  as  often  as  he  pleased. 

«  I   AM   informed  that  an  application  to  Colonel 

*  Hamilton,  on  behalf  of  the  widow,  and  orphans  of 

<  a  friend  of  Doctor  Oliphant's,*  who  became  his  se- 
1  curity,  for  the  debt  in  question,    was   a  prevalent 
'  motive    with  him,  to  take   the  steps  he  has  done, 

<  to  oblige  the  doctor  to  do  justice ;  and  although 

•  Major  Hugcr. 


145 

1  their  husband  and  father  fell,  fighting  in  the  cause 

*  of  treason  and  rebellion,  we  do  not  wish  to  see  them 
'  involved  in  ruin  and  distress. 

4  WITH  respect  to  the  last  part  of  your  letter,  I 
'  was  no  sooner  informed  that  there  was  a  considera- 

*  ble  sickness  on  board  the  Concord,  than  I   ordered 

*  her  to  be  inspected;  and  although  it  was  reported 

*  to  me  that  there  was  not  any  symptoms  of  tbe  dis- 
<  ease  you  mention  I  removed  the  prisoners  on  shore. 

'  I  am,  sir, 

*  Your  most  obedient  servant. 
N  '  N.  BALFOUR. 

1  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

GENERAL  OFFICERS  BELONGING  TO  THE 
AMERICAN  ARMY. 

December  15th,  1780. 

OFFICERS' NAMES.  BANKS.     'DATES  OF  COM. 

George  Washington,  Com. in  Chief,  June  15,  1775. 
Israel  Putnam,  -  -  Major  Gen.  June  19,  1775. 
Horatio  Gates,  -  -  Ditto,  -  May  16,  1776. 
Nathaniel  Greene,  -  Ditto,  -  Aug.  9,  1776. 
William  Heath,  -  -  Ditto,  -  Aug.  9,  1776, 
Wm.  Earl  Sterling,  -  Ditto,  -  Febr.  1777. 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  -  -  Ditto,  ^  Febr.  1777. 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  -  Ditto,  -  Febr.  1777. 
Marq.  de  la  Fayette,  -  Ditto,  -  July  31,  1777. 
Robert  Howe,  -  -  Ditto,  -  Oct.  20,  1777. 


146 


OFFICERS'  NAMES. 
Alexander  M'Dougal, 
Baron  Stuben,       -     - 
William  Smallwood} 
Sam.  Holden  Parsons, 
William  Thompson,  - 
James  Clinton,      -     - 
Wm.  Moultrie,     -     - 
L.  M'Intosh,    -     -     - 
Henry  Knox,  -    -    - 

John  Glover,    -     -  - 

John  Patterson,     -  - 

Geerge  Weadan,  -  - 
Anthony  Wayne, 

Peter  Mulhenbury,  - 

George  Clinton,  -  - 
Edward  Hand,  -  - 
Charles  Scott,  -  - 
Jedediah  Huntington, 
John  Starkes,  ... 
Chev.  du  Portail, 
Jethro  Sumner,  -  - 
James  Hogan,  -  - 
Isaac  Huger,  -  -  - 
Mordecai  Gest,  -  - 
William  Irvine,  -  - 
Daniel  Morgan,  -  - 


RANKS.       DATES  OF   COM. 

Major  Gen.     Oct.  20,  1777. 

Inspect.  Gen.    May  5,    1778. 

Major  Gen.      Sep.  15,  1780' 

Ditto,      -     Oct.  23,  1780. 

Brigadier  Gen.  Mar.  1,  1776. 


Ditto,      -    Aug.  9,  1776- 

Ditto,       -     Sep.  16,  1776. 

Ditto,       -     Sep.  16,  1776. 

Ditto,      -     Dec.  27,  1776. 

Ditto, 
Ditto, 
Ditto, 
Ditto, 
Ditto, 

These  gentlemen, 
by  resolve  of  Con- 
gress, of  Feb.  2  1  , 
are  to  rank  accor- 
ding to  the  rank 
of  their  commis- 
sions in  the  army 
at  that  time. 

Ditto,      -     Mar.  2  5,  1777. 

Ditto,      -     Apr.   I,  1777. 

Ditto,      -  Apr.  2,  1777. 

Ditto,      -  May  12,  1777. 

Ditto,  -  Oct.  4,  1777. 
Do.  chief  Eng.  Nov.  17,  J777. 

Brig.  Gen.  -  Jan.  9,  1777. 

Ditto,      -  Jan.  9,    1777. 

Ditto,      -  Jan.  9,     1777. 

Ditto,      -  Jan.  9,    1777. 

Ditto,      -  May  12,  1779. 

Ditto,      -  Oct.  13,  1780. 


147 


To  COL.  INNIS. 

«  December  25th,   1780. 
«  SIR, 

«  MR.  Gibbs,  deputy  commissary  of  prisoners 
1  brought  me  an  order  yesterday  from  you,    direct- 
ing u  the   officers,  (general  officers  excepted)  pri- 

*  soners  of  war,  to  be  forthwith  drawn  within  three 

<  miles  of  Haddrell's-point." 

*  IN  the  third  article  of  the  capitulation,  it  is  sli- 
'  pulated,  "  that  the  continental  troops  and  sailors, 
4  with  their  baggage,  shall  be  conducted  to  a  place 
«  to  be  agreed  on,  where  they  will  remain  prisoners 
«  of  war,  until  exchanged ;"  and  the  place  agreed 

<  upon   for    the  officers,    by  their  Excellencies  Sir 
{  Henry  Clinton  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  and  Major 

*  General  Lincoln,  before  the  gates  were  given  up, 

*  was    "   Haddrell's-point,     and   six  miles  thereof; 

*  without  passing  any  river,    creek,  or  arm  of  the 
'  sea  ;"  a  copy  of  which  I  transmit  to  you  ;  and,  as 

*  a  confirmation  of  this,  all  the  officers'  paroles  (Gene- 
«  ral  officers  excepted*)  were  filled  up  to  Haddrell's- 

*  point,  or  within  six  miles  thereof,  with  the  above 
«  restrictions  ;  and  Colonel  Balfour,  in  his   first  or- 
'  der  as  commandant,    restrained  the  officers  to  six 
'  miles.  As  the  officers  are  now  situated  agreeable  to 


*  General    officers    restrained  to    twelve  miles  in    their 
paroles. 


1-1  it 

*  the  agreement,  made  under  the  capitulation,    espe- 
'  cially  as  it  is  impossible  to  get  proper  quarters  \vith- 
«  in  the  bounds  you  prescribe,   and  the  barracks  them- 
«  selves  are  so  unfinished,  as  make  them  very   cold 

*  and  disagreeable  in   a  winter  season,    I  hope,  sir, 
'  you  will  consider  the  great  inconvenience  the  prison- 

*  ers  must  necessarily  be  put  tb  by  a  removal  ;    and 

*  permit  them  to  remain  in  their  present  quarters. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

THE  officers  were  allowed  to  remain  in  their  quar- 
ters. 

December,  1780. 

GENERAL  du  Portail  being  now  exchanged  went 
out  from  Haddrell's-point;  and,  on  his  way  to  Phila- 
delphia, visited  General  Greene's  camp. 

To  GEN.  GREENE. 

«  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  Jan.  1st.  17S1. 
«  SIR, 

4  THREE  days  ago  I  was  honored  with  your  fa- 
«  vor  of  the  eighteenth  of  December  last :  I  am  sor- 

*  ry  I  cannot  collect  the  returns  which  you   require 

*  of  me  to  transmit  you  by  the  favorable  opportunity 

*  of  General  du  Portail,  who  leaves  this  place  so  im- 
mediately   as   not   to   allow    time  ;    I   thought  it, 


149 

'  however,  best  to  send  you  such  as  I  had  ready  ; 
«  which  is  a  copy  of  one  delivered  to  the  British  com- 
1  mandant,  to  send  to  New- York  ;  and  consists  prin- 

*  cipally  of  the  prisoners  of  war,  under  the  capitula- 

*  tion  of  Charlestown  ;  they  stand  upon  the  return 

*  as  they  are  first  to  be  exchanged,   as  settled  by  the 
'  general  officers,  prisoners   here ;    which  are  to  be 

*  those  who  have  been  longest  in  captivity  ;  and  the 
1  senior  officer  of  the  rank,  proposed  to  be  exchanged. 

*  I  WILL  have  returns  collected  of  all  the  prisoners 

*  of  war  in  this  state  ;  and  transmit  them  to  you  as 
'  soon  as  possible  ;  those  of  the  non-commissioned 
1  officers  and  privates  can  easily   be   procured,    as 

*  they  are  all  on  board  of  prison-ships  :  my  last  re- 

*  turn  of  the  continental  soldiers  amounted  to  about 
«  1400. 

«  Your's,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

THE  following  proposal  was  made  to  my  son,  which 
I  found   in  his  desk  among  his  papers,  after  his 
decease  ;  in  his  own  hand  writing  :  viz. 
'LIEUTENANT    COLONEL  BALFOUR'S    PROPOSAL   TO 
GENERAL  MOULTRIE. 

'  January  14th,   1781. 
1  MR.  Moultrie,    your  father's  character  and  your 

*  own  have  been  represented  to  me  in  such  a  light 

*  that  I  wish  to  serve  you  both  :  what  I  have  to  say 

VOL.  ii.  TT 


150 

«  I  will  sum  up  in  a  few  words.     I  wish  you  to  pro- 

*  pose  to  your  father,    to  relinguish  the  cause  he  is 
«  now  engaged  in,   which  he   may  do  without  the 
'  least  dishonor  to  himself;  he  can  only  enclose  his 

*  commission   to  the  first  general  officer,  (General 

<  Greene  for  instance)  the  command  will  devolve  on 

*  the  next  officer  ;  which  is  often  done  in  our  service  ; 

*  any  officer  may  resign  his  commission  in  the   field 

*  if  he  chooses  :   if  your  father  will  do  this,  he  may 

<  rely  on  me,   he  shall  have  his  estate   restored  to 

*  him,  and  all  damages  paid  him  :  I  believe   you  are 
«  the  only  heir  to  your  father.    And  as  for  you,  sir, 
'  if  your  father  continues  firm,   I  shall  never  ask  you 

*  to  bear  arms  against  him.     These  favors,  you  may 

*  depend,  I  shall  be  able  to  obtain  from  my  lord  Corn- 
'  wallis  ;  and  you  may  rely  on  my  honor,  this  mat- 

1  ter  shall  never  be  divulged  by  me.' 

« 
THIS   proposal   from  Colonel    Balfour  convinces 

me,  that  the  letter  which  I  received  from  Lord 
Charles  Montague,  some  time  after,  did  not  origi- 
nate with  himself:  when  I  shewed  Lord  Charles* 
letter  to  my  son»  he  then  told  me  of  Colonel  Bal- 
four's  proposal  to  him.  He  told  Colonel  Balfour, 
'  He  could  not  make  such  a  proposal  to  his  father, 
for  he  was  sure  he  would  not  listen  to  it.' 


151 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

'January  24th,  1781. 

«  SIR,  \ 

1  ON  my  arrival  in  town,  some  days  ago,   I  was 
'  informed  that  some  of  the  British  officers  frequent- 

*  ed  the  American  hospital,  with  an  intention  to  in- 

*  list  the  men,  to  the  great  disturbance  and  disorder 
'  of  the  hospital ;  upon  which  I  ordered  captain  Shu- 
1  brick  to  wait  upon  you,  to  acquaint  you  with  their 

*  proceedings  :  you  assured  him  it  was   contrary  to 
4  your    orders,  and  desired  to  have  the  officers'  names, 
'  which  I  herewith  inclose  you :  I  could  not  procure 

<  them  time  enough  to  be  sent  before   I  left  town. 
1  On  my  way  to  the  boat,  to  return  to  this  place,   to 

*  my  great  surprise,  I  saw  an  officer,  and  a  gentle- 

*  man  dressed  like  a  clergyman,  leading   a  number 
'  of  the   continental  soldiers  down  to    the    wharf; 
'  which  I  took  to  be  two  of  the  officers  named  on  the 

*  inclosed  list,   as  I  was  informed  that  morning  they 
'  had  inlisted  many  from  the   hospital ;    I  hope,   sir, 

<  as  it  was  done  in  violation  of  your  orders  they  will 
'  be  directed  to  deliver  those  men  back,   and  not  be 
'  permitted   to   visit  the  American  hospital  on  any 

'  pretence  whatever. 

'  I  am,  8cc. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE. 


152 

FROM  JAMES  FRASER, 
<  CHARLESTOWN,  Jan.  28th,   1781. 
«  SIR, 

<  I  AM  desired  to  inquire  what  letter  General 
'  Greene  received  from  you  by  General  du  Portail, 
'  as  no  letter  of  your's  was  sent  here  for  inspection 
'  that  was  forwarded  by  that  gentleman  ;  and,  at  the 
4  same  time,  beg  to  be  acquainted  why  General  du 

*  Portail  visited  General  Greene  on  his  way  to  Phila- 
i  delphia,  the  camp  of  the  latter  not  being  on  his  di- 
'  rect  road  to  that  place. 

'  By  order  of  the  Commandant. 

'  I  am,  sir, 

*  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
«  JAMES  FRASEB, 
*  Com.  Prisoners. 
'  Gen.  MOULTRIK.' 

To  GEN.  GREENE. 

*  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  Jan.  30th,  178!. 
*Si», 

4  I  DID  myself  the  honor  to  write  you  on  the 
<  1st  inst.  in  which  I  enclosed  you  a  return  of  the 

*  officers  prisoners  of  war  at  HaddrelFs-point ;  I  now 
4  send  you  a  return  of  all  the  prisoners  in  this  state 
'  that  I  can  get  information  of,  as  well  militia  as  con- 

*  tinental,  and  those  sent  to   Augustine.     I  shall  be 
'  much  obliged  to  you  for  some  direction  relative  to 


153 

1  the   exchange  of    prisoners.     I   have    made  some 
'  partial  exchanges,   and  shall  be  glad  to  know  whe- 

*  ther  I  shall  continue  to   exchange  as   I  have  done 

*  hitherto  ;  if  so,   be  pleased  to  favor  me  with  a  list 

*  of  such   British  prisoners  as  you  have  upon  parole, 
'  that  I  may  know  how  to  guide  myself  in    that  busi- 
{  ness  when  it  is  proposed  to  me  :  about  fifty  privates 
4  have  been  proposed  for  exchange,   but  that  I  post- 

*  poned  till  I  should  hear  from  you,  as  you  may  give 

*  me  some  directions  upon   a  more  enlarged   scale. 
'  By  the  resolutions  of  Congress  of  the  5th  and  12th 
'  of  August  last,   I  am  authorised  to  appoint  a  suit- 
{  able  person  to  act  as  commissary  of  prisoners  in 

*  Charlestown  ;  and  am  directed  to  return  the  name 
1  of  the  person,  so  appointed,  to  the  commander  in 
'  chief  of  the  southern   department.     In  pursuance 

*  of  which  resolution,   I  have   nominated  Mr.  James 
'  Fisher   for    that   office>     and    acquainted    General 
'  Gates  of  the  same  for  his  approbation  :  I  beg  leave 
1  to  recommend  him  to  you  as  a  gentleman  who  will 
'  exert  himself  to  the  utmost  in  the   punctual  and 

*  faithful  performance  of  his  duty. 

«  I  AM  happy  to  inform  you,  that  by  a  letter  from 
<  Mr.  Matthews,  a  delegate  for  South  Carolina,  that 
'  a  general  exchange  is  agreed  upon  between  their 

*  Excellencies    Gen.    Washington    and    Sir   Henry 

*  Clinton  ;   and  that  it  will  soon  take  place.     I   am 
.*  sorry  that  I  cannot  yet  give  you  an  account  of  the 


154 

<  arrival  of  the   flag  from  Philadelphia  :  we  are  in 

*  hourly  expectation  of  seeing  her. 

4  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE. 

> 
To  DOCTOR  FRASER. 

4  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  Feb.  2d,   1781. 

*  SIR, 

4  I  RECEIVED  your's  of  the  twenty-eighth  of 
4  last  month,  the  evening  before  last  ;  and,  for  the 
4  satisfaction  of  the  commandant,  enclose  you  a  copy 
4  of  the  letter  sent  to  General  Greene,  assuring  him, 
4  at  the  same  time,  that  I  had  not  the  least  idea  of 
4  sending  a  letter  to  the  American  camp,  or  any 
4  where  else,  in  a  clandestine  manner,  and  contrary 
4  to  my  parole  ;  but  doubted  not  it  would  be  examined 

*  by  the   British  officer  who  was   to  attend  General 
4  du  Portail  without  the  lines  ;   and  that  if  there  had 
4  been  the  least  impropriety  it  would  not   have  been 
4  allowed  to  pass  ;  I  left  it  open  for  perusal,  and  re- 
4  quested  the  favor  of  General  du   Portail,  when  it 
4  was  examined,  if  he  proceeded  immediately  on  to 
4  Philadelphia,  after  he  left  the  British  lines,  that  he 
4  would  seal  up  the  packet,  and  forward  it  to  General 
4  Greene  :  General  du  Portail  informed  me,  he  be- 
4  lieved  (but  was  not  certain)  he  would  be  under  the 
4  necessity   of  going  to  General  Greene's  camp,  to 

*  procure  money   and  horses,   to  carry  him  on  to 


155 

<  Philadelphia  ;  as  to  what  rout  he  took  when  he 
'  left  this,  it  was  entirely  at  his  own  option;  he  best 
4  knew  what  his  exchange  allowed,  and,  I  dare  say, 
'  will  anwer  any  objections  that  may  be  made  on  that 
«  head. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

FROM  DOCTOR  OLIPHANT. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  Feb.  3rd.  1781. 

*  DEAR  SIR, 

«  WITHOUT   your  support,  it  will  be  impossible 
4  for  me  to  do  my  duty  by  our  unfortunate  sick.     I 

*  am  to    acquaint  you,  that  I  received  a  message 

*  by  Doctor  Hayes  from  the  commandant  this  morn- 

'  ing,  desiring  me  to  dismiss  Mr.  M'Clean,*  our 
6  steward,  from  the  service  of  the  hospital ;  for  he 
«  was  determined  he  should  not  continue  any  longer 
'  in  that  place  :  no  crime  is  laid  to  his  charge :  I 

*  conceive  it  contrary  to  my  authority  to  dismiss  him 
'  without  a  regular  trial,  as  he  has  ever,  to  the  best 
'  of  my  knowledge,  acted  as  a  faithful  servant  to  the 

*  public.     I  look  upon  it  I  should  commit  the  great- 
1  est  act  of  injustice  were   I  to  pay  any  attention  to 
4  the  requisition. 


*  M'Clean  was  a  faithful  steward  ;  his  only  crime  to  them 
was  his  dissuading  the  men  to  inlist  in  the  British  service. 


156 

<  THE  physicians  and  surgeons  were  this  day  dc- 
«  nied  access  to  the  sick  in  the  hospital  :  no  person, 
'at  12  o'clock  at  noon,  could  pass  or  repass  the 
'  gates,  except  the  steward  or  his  assistant,  to  fetch 
«  provisions  for  the  sick  :  under  such  a  choice  of 
1  difficulties,  I  am  much  distressed  how  to  conduct 
'  myself;  permit  me,  therefore,  if  compatible  with 
«  your  situation,  to  entreat  that  you  may  come  to 
*  town,  and,  if  possible,  put  matters  on  a  better  fcot- 
« ing,  for  the  relief  of  our  unfortunate  sick. 
*  I  am  your's,  Sec. 

«  DAVID  OLIPHANT. 

{  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


FROM  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 
<  CHARLES-TOWN,  February  8th,   1781. 
«  SIR, 

'  I  HAVE  before  me  your  letter  of  the  4th  inst. 
4  containing  the  complaint  of  Dr.  Oliphant,  respect- 

*  ing  my  directions  for  the  dismission  of  the  steward 

*  of  your  hospital,  which  is  a  point  I  must  still  insist 
'  on,  as,  by  the  report  of  the  Deputy  Commissary  of 

*  Prisoners,  he  has  been  guilty  of  a  conduct  highly 
'  blameable  from  one  under  his  situation. 

'  FOR  the  sole  right,  which  you  assert,    Dr.  Oli- 
'  phant  has  to  give  directions  in  the  medicinal   line 

*  of  your  hospital,  I  must  conceive,  as  he  is  no  lon- 
<  ger  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  detained  here  for  the 


157 

<  failure  of  private  contract,  in  not  liquidating  his 

*  debts,  lhat  neither  you  nor  he  can  have   claims  on 

*  his  person  to  any  advantages  arising  from  the  capi- 

*  tulation  of  Charlestown  ;  and  that  therefore  his  be- 

*  ing  at  all  allowed  to  officiate  in  his  public  capacity 

*  should  rather  be  attributed  to  sufferance  than  claim- 
4  ed  as  a  right. 

<THE  officers  of  your  hospital  being  precluded, 
1  for  a  short  time,  admittance  to  it,  as  it  was  without 
1  my  directions,  was  immediately  rectified  on  com- 

*  ing  to  my  knowledge ;   but,  I  must  here  remark, 

*  though  against  my  inclination,  that,  in  general,  your 

*  people  seem  to  be  more  solicitous  for  the  causes 

*  of  complaint,  than  anxious,  on  their  own  parts,  to 
'  remove  them.     You  have  my  full  permission  to 
s  write  what  you  please,  within  the  line  of  propriety, 
«  to  General  Greene,  provided  the  same  is  submitted 

*  to  proper  inspection ;  and  as  this,  sir,  is  an  express 
1  condition  of  your  parole,  and  I  have  some  cause  to 
«  think  it  has  been  violated  in  your  letter  by  General 

*  du  Portail  to  General  Greene,     I  may  hereafter, 
4  when  I  have  completed  my  information,  have  occa- 
'  sion  to  write  you  more   explicitly  on  this  subject. 
{  General    du  Portail's    making   General  Greene's 

*  camp,  on  his  way  to    Philadelphia,  was  a  direct 

<  breach  of  that  passportj  under  which  he  had  liberty 

VOL.   II.  X 


HB 

'  to  proceed  there;  of   which  I  therefore  think  it  my 
c  duty  to  inform  the  commander  in  chief. 
*  I  am,  &c. 

*  N.  BALFOUR. 

*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

LETTER  FROM  LORD  CHARLES  MONTAGUE. 

1  CHARLESTOWN,  Feb.  9th,  1781. 
'  DEAR  SIR, 

<  IT  is  a  longtime  since  I  have  had  the  pleasure 

*  of  seeing  you  ;  but  the  length  of  time  has  not  ef- 

*  faced  the  civilities  and  marks  of  friendship  I  receiv- 

*  ed  from  you.     I  wish  much  to  see  you;  you  know 
c  I  have  again  returned  to  this  country  for  a  short 

*  time. 

*  IF  it  is  agreeable  to  you,  I  will  either  call  upon 

*  you,  or  be  glad  to  see  you  here,  at  No.  57,  Old 
'  Church-street. 

«  I  SEND  this  by  my  old  servant  Fisher. 
*  Your  sincere  friend. 

*  CHARLES  MONTAGUE. 
1  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 
1  CHARLESTOWN,  February  12th,  1781. 
1  SIR, 

«  I  RECEIVED  your's  of  the  8th  inst.  in  which 
'  you  inform  me,  you  must  insist  upon  the  dismission 


15§ 

i  of  the  steward  of  our  hospital,  as  he  has  been  guil- 
1  ty  of  a  conduct  highly  blameable.*  I  am  sorry  the 
'  steward  has  behaved  himself  in  a  manner  unbecom- 
1  ing  his  station.  I  wish  I  could  have  been  inform- 

*  ed  of  it  in  time,  to  have  pi-evented  any  ill  conduct 

*  in  future.     I  claim  the  sole  right  of  Dr.  Oliphant's 
'  giving  directions  in  our  hospital  in  the  medicinal 
'  line,  from  a  circumstance  which,  I  imagine,  you 

<  must  be  unacquainted  with  ;  and,  for  your  informa- 
4  tion,  I  inclose  you  a  copy  of  Dr.  Oliphant's  parole ; 
1  by  which  you  will  see,  that,  though  exchanged,  yet 
'  that  exchange  is  not  thoroughly  completed,  as  he 

*  is  there  obliged  to  stay  to  do  his  duty  in  the  hospi- 
'  tal  ;  therefore  he  is  still  a  prisoner  upon  parole, 
'  and  has  still  the  direction  of  the  hospital ;    and 
t  should  he  make  satisfaction  to  those  who  have  de- 
i  tained  his  person  for  a  private  contract,  yet  he 

*  could  not  leave  the  hospital  without  first  obtaining 

*  permission  from  the  American  officer  commanding; 

<  in  the  southern  department.     I  was  well  assured 

*  that  you  were  unacquainted  with  the  physicians  and 
'  surgeons  being  refused  admittance!  into  our  hospi- 
'  tal  was  the  reason  I  wrote  you  on  the  subject,  as  I 


*  Dissuading  the  American  soldiers  from  enlisting  >n  the 
British  service. 

+  Because  some  British  officers  were  then  'R  the  hospital  cn^ 
deavoring  to  enlist  the  men. 


160 

<  have  been  informed  that  you  wished  more  care  was 
'  taken  of  the  sick. 

«  I  AM  very  sorry  you  should  have  cause  to  think 
«  I  have  violated  my  parole  in  the  least ;  I  stand  ac- 
«  quitted  in  my  own  idea  ;  and  I  am  sure  a  gentlemen 

*  of  your  candor  will  be  of  the  same  opinion,  when 

*  you  come  to  enquire  more  particularly  into  the  cir- 

*  cumstances  :  the  letter  itself  the  most  exact  scru- 

*  tiny  cannot  take  any  exceptions  to ;    and  the  send- 
'  ing  a  list  of  the  prisoners  I  had  your  permission  for 

*  so  doing. 

•GEN.  du  Portail  is  undoubtedly  a  gentleman  of 
4  the  strictest  honor,  and,   I  dare  say,  considered  his 
'  going  to  Gen.  Greene's  camp  as  no  impropriety,  or 
'  he  would  not  have  taken  that  rout. 
*  I  am,  Sec. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  MAJOR  HARLESTON  AND  CAPT.  PETER  GRAY. 
«  HADDRELI/S-POINT,  Feb.  27th,  1781. 
'  GENTLEMIN, 

*  You   are  at  the  receipt  of  this,  to  repair  with 

*  your  baggage,  servants,   &c.  to  the  barracks  near 

*  Iladdrell's-point,  there  to  take  your  quarters. 

*  I  am  your's,  &c. 

(  JAMES  PLACE. 

<  A.  C.  P.» 


FROM  MAJOR  HARLESTON. 

<  DISTILLERY,  Feb.  28th,  1781. 

*  SIR, 

*  As   I  conceive  the  enclosed  mandate  to  be  a 

*  flagrant  breach  of  a  most  essential  article  of  the 

*  capitulation,  and  as  nay  refusal  to  obey  it,  may  in- 
4  volve  me  in  a  contention  I  wish  to  avoid,    I  beg 
'  leave  to  address  you  on  the  subject,  requesting  an 
'  application  may  be  made  to  the  commandant  for 
'  obtaining  satisfaction  in  the  premises  ;  and  for  si- 
'  lencing  threats  ;  one  of  which  was  conveyed  to  me 
1  since  the  enclosed,    in  a  verbal  message,  by  a  ser- 

*  geant,  apparently  calculated  to  irritate  ;  and  which 

*  any  attempt  to  execute,  ought  to  be  considered  as 

*  discharging  the    party   threatened  from  the  obli- 
1  gations  of  a  parole.     I  am  led  to  observe,  that  the 
'  distance  of  this  place   from  the  barracks,    in  a  di- 
i  rect  line,  does  not  exceed  three  quarters  of  a  mile, 
'  nor  does  the  circuitous  rout  imposed  on  me  by  the 
«  obstructions  thrown  in  my  way,  protract  the  dis- 

*  tance  to  be  more  than  two  miles   and  an  half. 

*  I  am  your's,  &c. 

(  ISAAC  HARLESTON. 
«  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


162 


To  GEN.  GREENE. 

'  CHARLESTOWN,  February  28th,  1781. 
«  SIR, 

*  I  HAVE  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  I  have 

*  made  exchange  for  a  number  of  continental  officers, 
'  a  list  of  whose  names  are  herewith  transmitted  to 

*  you,  and  doubt  not  will  meet  with  your  approbation. 
'  I  had  proposed  to  exchange  some  militia,  but  Col. 
'  Balfour,     commandant   of    Charlestown,     did   not 

*  choose  to  enter  upon  their  exchanges,  as  that  mat- 

*  ter  would  be  settled  in  a  general  exchange  ;  which 

*  we  are  in  hopes  will  soon  take  place. 

*  I  SHALL  esteem  it  as  a  particular  favor  if  you 

*  would  inform  me,  whether  it  is  the  custom,  in  our 

*  army,  in  making  exchanges,  to  adhere  to  the  old 

*  customs  of  war ;  exchanging  cavalry  for  cavalry, 

*  infantry  for  infantry,  artillery  for  artillery  ;  or  whe- 
<  ther  we  should  go  on  as  hitherto,  by  seniority  and 

*  the  longest  in  captivity. 

*  I  am,  &c. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

THE  HON.  BOARD  OF  WAR,  PHILADELPHIA. 

<  CHAR LEiTOWN,  March  1st,  1781. 
'  GENTLEMEN, 

*  I  AM  honored  with  your  favor  of  the 

*  19th  of  December  last,  with  invoice  and  bills  of  lad- 

*  ing  of  sundries  for  clothing  the  prisoners  of  war ; 


163 

{  and  also  of  three  hundred  and  forty-four  barrels  of 

*  flour  :  all  which  are  come  safe  to  hand  ;  and  a  re- 
'  ceipt  for  three    thousand   six  hundred  and  forty- 
1  seven  dollars  for  the  use  of  the  officers ;  the  goods 
'  were  a  little  damaged  ;  the  flour   I  shall  have  sold, 
'  and  the  money  appropriated,    by  employing  the 
'  most  necessitous  people  in  making  up  the  clothing ; 

*  and  what  balance  may  be  left,  shall  be  distributed, 

*  as    directed  to  the   continental  trocps  and  militia 
(  who  were   actually  taken  in  arms  :    the  money  I 

*  have  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  officers,  agreeable 
'  to  rank;  which  amount  to  nine  days  pay,  including 

*  the  hospital  department.    I  am  sorry  I  cannot  send 

*  you  an  exact  return  of  the  prisoners  of  war,  as 

*  many  of  them  are  inlisted  in  the   British  service  ; 
f  I  imagine,   what  remains,  cannot  exceed  one  thou- 

1  sand  ;  I   heartily  wish  their  supply  had  arrived  a 
'  little  sooner  ;  the  officers  are  much  in  want;  their 

*  supplies  were  so  trifling,  as  to  be  of  very  little  ser- 

*  vice  to  them. 

*  I  HEREWITH  send  you  an  account  of  disburse. 

*  ments  for  the  vessel:  we  have  done  every  thing  in 

*  our  power  to  have  her  dispatched. 

4 1  have  the-  honor  to  be,  &c. 

«  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 


164 
To  COL.  BALFOUR, 

'  CURIST-CHURCH   PARISH,    March    2d,    1781. 

«  SIR, 

*  I  AM  again  under  the   necessity  of  troubling 

*  you  upon  a  subject  on  which  I  have  too  frequently 
4  wrote  :  I  was  in  hopes  matters  had  been  so  arrang- 
'  ed,  as  would  require   no  farther  application,  but  a 

*  letter  I  received  last  night  from  General  M'Intosh, 

*  a  copy  of  which  I  beg  leave   to   enclose   you,    in- 
'  forms  me  that  a  British  sergeant  is  ordered  to  be 

*  quartered  in  the  barracks  amongst  the  officers ;  and 

*  that  they  are  to  turn  out  of  a  particular  room,  to 

*  accommodate  this  sergeant ;  the  reason  given   is, 
"  that  four  of  lour  officers,  the  other  night,  stole  a 

*  boat,  and  went  to  town   in  her  :"  if  this  be  true,  I 

*  could  wish  they  were  pointed  out,  and  punished  ac- 

*  cording  to  the  offence  ;  which,  in  my  opinion,  is  of 
'  a  very  heinous  nature,  and  deserves  the   severest 
{ treatment ;  but  I  cannot  conceive  the   propriety  of 
'  reducing  the  whole  to  a  disagreeable  situation  for 
'  the  ill  conduct  of  a  few.     A  parole  is  a  sacred  act 

*  between  parties,  which,  if  violated  on  either  side,  is 

*  void  in  itself;  I    cannot  help  observing,  that  this 

*  sergeant  beingplaced among  the  officers  upon  parole, 
1  is  unusual,  and  has  the  appearance  of  a  guard  :  I 
{  hope,    sir,    you  will  consider  it  in  that  light,  and 
'  have  him  removed.     The  officers  afe  now  exceed. 
«  ingly  crowded,  yet  six  of  them   must  turn  out    to 


165 

*  give  a  room  to  this  sergeant :   many  of  them  are 

*  now  under  the  necessity  of  building  huts  in  the 
1  woods,    for  their  better   accommodation  ;    though 
<  we  have  had  an  exchange  lately,  yet  their  number 

*  was  replaced  by  the   gentlemen  of  the  Maryland 

*  and  Delaware  lines. 

1  MAJOR  Harleston  and  others  have  also  informed 
•'  me  that  they  have  received  a  positive  order  from 
4  Mr.  Place,  assistant  commissary  of  prisoners,  to  re- 
4  pair  with  their  baggage  and  servants  near  Had- 
'  drell's-point,  there  to  take  up  their  quarters.  This 

*  order,   I  cannot  but  imagine,  must  arise  from  some 
«  mistake,  as  they  are  clearly  within  the  line  prescrib- 
'  ed  by  the  capitulation;  en  a  direct  course  not  more 

*  than  half  a  mile,  and  on  a  circuitous  rout  not  more 

*  than  two  miles  and  a  half. 

*  ANOTHER  matter  I  must  trouble  you  with  j  Ge- 

*  neral  M'Intosh,  with  a  number  of  other  gentlemen, 

*  are  threatened  by  Mr.  Scott  to  be  turned  out  of  his 

*  house,   (which  was  allotted  by  the  barrack  master 

*  for  the  reception  of  the  prisoners  of  war)  and  their 

*  baggage  stopped  for  the  payment  of x  the  rent.     I 

*  hope,  sir,  when  you  come  to  consider  of  these  se- 

*  veral  matters,   here  related  to  you,  that  you  will 

*  agree  with  me   in  opinion,  that  the  placing  a  ser- 
'  geant  *  among  gentlemen  upon  parole  carries  a 


*  The  sergeant  was  withdrawn. 
vot.  ii.  y 


166 


<  suspicion  of  their  honor  ;  that  Major  Harleston  and 

<  others  being  ordered  to  the  barracks  is  a  violation 
«  of  the  capitulation ;  and  that  Gen.   M'Intosh  and 

*  other  gentlemen  being  turned  out  of  their  quarters, 
'  and  obliged  to  pay  rent,  would  be  an  injustice  done 

*  them.     I  find  myself  under  some  difficulty  in  not 

*  being  permitted  to  send  an  officer  to  town  to  deliv- 

*  er  any  letter  or  message  which   I  may  have  occa- 

*  sion  to  send  you  ;  it  leaves  me  in  an  uncertain  si- 
'  tuation  when  my  letters  are  to  be  sent  to  the  assist- 
«  ant  commissary  of  prisoners  for  his  conveyance. 

'  I  am,  &c. 

4  WM.  MOULTRIE.* 

FROM  LORD  CHARLKS  MONTAGUE. 

<  March  llth,   1781. 

'Sin, 

K 
'  A  SIKCERB  wish  to  promote  what  may  be  to 

1  your  advantage,  induces  me  now  to  write  ;  and  the 

*  freedom  with  which  we  have  often  conversed  makes 
4  me  hope  you  will  not  take  amiss  what  I  say.     My 

*  own  principles,   respecting  the  commencement  of 
« this  unfortunate  war,  are  well  known  to  you,  and, 
«  of  course,  you  can  conceive  what  I  mention  is  out 

*  of  friendship  :  you  have  now  fought  bravely  in  the 

*  cause  of  your  country  for  many  years,  and,  in  my 

*  opinion,  fulfilled  the  duty  every  individual  owes  to 

*  it.     You  have  had  your  share  of  hardships  and  dif- 


<  ficulties,  and  if  the  contest  is  still  to  be  continued, 

*  younger  hands  should  now  take  the  toil  from  you. 

*  You  have  now  a  fair  opening  of  quitting  that  ser- 

*  vice,  with  honor  and  reputation  to  yourself,  by  go- 
'  ing  to  Jamaica  with  me.     The   world  will  readily 
'  attribute  it  to  the  known  friendship  that  has  sub- 

*  sisted  between  us  :  and  by  quitting  this  country  for 
'  a  short  time,    you  would  avoid   any  disagreeable 
'  conversations,  and  might  return  at  leisure,  to  take 

*  possession  of  your  estates  for  yourself  and  family. 

4  THE  regiment  I  am  going  to  command,  the  on- 

*  ly  proof  I  can  give  you  of  my  sincerity  is,  that  I 
1  will  quit  that  command  to  you  with  pleasure,  and 
'  serve  under  you.     I  earnestly  wish  I   could  be  the 
'  instrument  to  effect  what  I  propose,  as  I  think  it 
'  would  be  a  great  means  towards  promoting  that  re- 
1  conciliation  we  all  wish  for:    a  thousand  circum- 
'  stances  concur  to  make  this  a  proper  period  for 

*  you  to  embrace :   our  old  acquaintance  :  my  hav- 
'  ing  been  formerly  governor  in  this  province  :  the 

*  interest  I  have  with  the  present  commanders. 

*  I  GIVE   you  my  honor,  what  I  write  is  entirely 
1  unknown  to  the  commandant,  or  to  any  one  else  ; 

*  so  shall  your  answer  be,  if  you  favor  me  with  one. 

*  Think  well  of  me. 

*  Your's  sincerely. 

<  CHARLES  MONTAGUE. 

*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 


168 

To  LORD  CHARLES  MOKTAOUE. 

«  HADDRELL'S-POINT,  March  12th,  178 1« 
{  MY  LORD, 

*  I  RECEIVED  your's,  this  morning,  by  Fisher; 
'  I  thank  you  for  your  wish  to  promote  my  advantage, 
'  but  am  much  surprised  at  your  proposition  ;  I  flat- 

*  tered  myself  I   stood  in  a  more  favorable     light 

*  with  you  :    I   shall  write  with  the   same  freedom 

*  with  which  we  used  to   converse,    and  doubt  not, 

*  you  will  receive  it  with   the  same  candor :  I  have 

*  often  heard  you  express  your  sentiments  respecting 

*  this  unfortunate  war,  when  you  thought  the  Ameri- 

*  cans  injured  ;  but  am  now  astonished  to  find  you 

*  taking  an  active  part  against  them ;    though  not 

*  fighting  particularly  on  the  continent,  yet  seducing 

*  their  soldiers  away,  to  inlist  in  the  British  service, 

*  is  nearly  similar. 

*  MY  lord,    you  are  pleased  to  compliment  me 

*  with  having  fought  bravely  in  my   country's  cause 

*  for  many  years,  and  in  your  opinion,  fulfilled  the 

*  duty  every  individual  owes  to  it ;  but  I    differ  very 

*  widely  with  you,  in  thinking  that  I  have  discharged 
(  my  duty  to  my  country,  while   it  is   still  deluged 
4  with  blood  and  over-run  with  British  troops,  who 

*  exercise  the  most  savage  cruelties.     When   I  en- 

*  tered  into  this  contest,  I  did  it  with  the  most  ma- 

*  ture  deliberation,  and  with  a  determined  resolution 

*  to  risque  my  life  and  fortune  in  the  cause.    The 


169 

(  hardships  I  have  gone  through  I  look  back  upon 

*  with  the  greatest  pleasure    and  honor  to  myself :  I 

*  shall  continue  to  go  on  as  I  have  begun,  that  my 

*  example  may  encourage  the  youths  of  America  to 
'  stand  forth  in  defence  of  their  rights  and  liberties. 

*  You  call  upon  me  now,   and  tell  me  I   have  a  fair 
'  opening  of  quitting  that  service  with  honor  and  re- 
4  putation  to  myself  by  going  with   you  to  Jamaica. 

*  Good  God !   is  it  possible  that  such  an  idea  could 
1  arise  in  the  breast  of  a  man  of  honor.     I  am  sorry 

*  you  should  imagine   I  have  so  little  regard  for  my 

*  own   reputation  as  to  listen  to  such  dishonorable 

*  proposals  ;  would  you  wish  to  have  that  man  whom 

*  you  have  honored  with  your  friendship  play  the 

*  traitor  ?    surely   not.     You   say,    by  quitting   this 

*  country  for  a  short  time  I  might  avoid  disagreeable 

*  conversations,   and  might  return  at  my  own  lei- 

*  sure  and  take  possession  of  my  estates  for  myself 
1  and  family  ;  but  you  have  forgot  to  tell  me  how  I 

*  am  to  get  rid  of  the  feelings  of  an  injured  honest 
'  heart,  and  where  to  hide  myself  from  myself ;  could 

*  I  be  guilty  of  so  much  baseness  I  should  hate  my- 

*  self  and  shun  mankind.     This  would  be  a  fatal  ex- 

*  change  from  my  present  situation,  with  an  easy  and 

*  approved  conscience  of  having  done  my  duty,  and 
'  conducted  myself  as  a  man  of  honor. 

*  MY  lord,  I  am  sorry  to  observe,  that  I  feel  your 

*  friendship  much  abated,  or  you  would  not  endeav- 


*  or  to  prevail  upon  me  to  act  so  base  a  part.     You 
<  earnestly  wish  you  could  bring  it  about,  as  you 

*  think  it  will  be  the  means  of  bringing  about  that 
'  reconciliation  we  all  wish  for.     I  wish  for  a  recon- 
1  ciliation  as  much  as  any  man,  but  only  upon   ho- 

*  norable  terms.    The  repossessing  my  estates,   the 

*  offer  of  the  command  of  your  regiment,  and   the 

*  honor  you  propose  of  serving  under  me,  are  paltry 

*  considerations  to  the  loss  of  my  reputation  :    no, 

*  not  the  fee  simple  of  that  valuable  island  of  Jamai- 

*  ca  should  induce  me  to  part  with  my  integrity. 

«  MY  lord,  as  you  have  made  one  proposal  give  me 

*  leave  to  make  another,  which  will  be  more  honor- 
1  able  to  us  both  ;  as  you  have  an  interest  with  your 

*  commanders,  I  would  have  you  propose  the  with- 

*  drawing  the  British  troops  from  the  continent  of 
<  America,  allow  the  independence,   and  propose  a 
'  peace  :  this  being  done,  I  will  use  my  interest  with 

*  my  commanders,  to  accept  of  the  terms,  and  al- 

*  low  Great  Britain  a  free  trade  with  America. 

4  MY  lord,  I  could  make  one  proposal,*  but  my 

*  situation  as  a  prisoner  circumscribes  me  within  cer- 

*  tain  bounds ;  I  must  therefore  conclude  with  allow- 


•  Which  was  to  ad?isc  him  to  come  over  to  the  Americans: 
this  proposal  I  could  not  make  when  on  parole. 


171 

*  ing  you  the  free  liberty  to  make  what  use  of  this 
1  you  may  think  proper.     Think  better  of  me. 

*  I  am,  my  lord, : 
*  Your  lordship's  most  obedient 
1  Humble  servant, 

1  WM.  MOULTHIE.' 

FROM  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

*  CHARLES-TOWN,  March,  1781. 
«  SIR, 

*  I  TAKE  this  opportunity  to  transmit  to  your 

*  information    the  proceedings  of  a  court  of  inquiry 
;  held  here  ;   in  consequence  of  which,  Lieut.   Col. 

*  Grimkie  and  Major  Habersham  are  committed  close 

*  prisoners  until  Lord  Cornwallis'  pleasure  shall  be 

*  known.    On  perusing  these  proceedings,  the  lenity 
e  of  British  officers  must  forcibly  strike  you ;  as  it 
'  must  come  within  your  own  knowledge  and  feelings 

*  that  breaches  of  parole  have  heretofore  been  over- 

*  looked ;  and  their  justice,  if  it  were  necessary,  will 
<  be  fully  evinced  in  Mr.  Place  being  dismissed  from 

*  his  office.    You  will  be  so  good  as  to  return  the 
1  original  letters,*  which   accompany  these  proceed- 

*  ings. 

1  I  am  now  to  address  you  on  a  subject,  with 

*  which  I  am  charged  by  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  hav- 


Kcane's  Grimkie's  and  Habersham's. 


*  in;^  in  vain  applied  to  General  Greene  for  an  equit- 

*  able  and  general  exchange  of  prisoners,  finds  it  ne- 
<  cessary,  in  justice  to  the  king's  service,  and  those 

*  of  his  army,  who  are  in  this   disagreeable  predica- 

*  ment,  to  pursue  such  measures,  as  may  eventually 

*  coerce  it  ;  and  his  lordship  has  consequently  or- 
{  dered  me  to  send  all  the  prisoners  of  war  here, 

*  forthwith  to  some  one  of  the  West-India  Islands  ; 

*  which,  I  am   particularly   directed  to  inform  you, 

*  cannot  be  delayed  beyond  the  middle  of  next  month  ; 

*  and  for  this  purpose,    the  transports  are   now  al- 
4  lotted,  of  which  an  account  will  soon  be  transmitted 

*  you. 

«  I  AM  sorry  to  add,  that  the  treatment  our  mili- 
«  tia  received,  when  made  prisoners  by  Brigadier 
«  General  Marion,  is  such,  as  unless  speedily  redress- 

*  ed,  will  compel  me,, in  justice  to  those   unhappy 
'  persons,  to  'a  severe  retaliation  ;  and,  in  that  case, 
'  I  shall  be  obliged  to  seperate  the  militia  from  the 
'  continental  prisoners  of  war. 

*  I  am  your's,  &c. 

<  J.  N.  BALFOUP. 
'  Gen.  MOULTKIE.' 

To  COL.  BALFOUR. 

<  CHRIST-CHURCH  PARISH,  March  31,   1781. 
«  SIR, 

'I  RECEIVED  your's  yesterday  evening,  dated 


173 

<  sine  die,  1781,  with  the  proceedings  of  a  court  of  in- 

*  quiry,  ordered  on  Lt.  Col.  Grimkie  and  Major  Ha- 

<  bersham  and  several  letters  relating  thereto,  and 

*  find  every  clause  of  so  much  consequence  that  I 
'  could  expatiate  very  largely  on  each  j  but  my  be. 

*  ing  a  prisoner  prohibits  me,  I  shall  touch  slightly 

*  upon  them  and  leave  the  rest  to  those  who  are  more 

*  at  liberty.     You  inform  me  that  Lt.  Col.  Grimkie 

<  and  Major  Habersham  are  close  prisoners  until  Lord 

*  Cornwallis'  pleasure  shall  be  known.    I  observe,  the 

*  court  is  of  opinion  they  are  guilty  of  a  breach  of  their 

<  paroles,  in  corresponding  by  letters  with  a  man  not 

*  in  the  king's  peace,  and  who  is  at  Beaufort.     I  am 

*  informed,  that  the  court  were  of  opinion  that  the 

*  letters  contained  nothing  criminal  or  of  a  bad  ten- 
J  dency  ;  if  merely  writing  a  letter  is  to  be  construed 

*  a  breach  of  parole,  I  believe  there  is  scarcely  an 

*  officer  in  the  British  or  American  service,  who  has 

*  been  a  prisoner  any  considerable  time,  but  has  vio- 
'  lated  his  parole.     I  .am  much  at  a  loss  to  recollect 
1  any  breaches  of  parole  that  have  been  overlooked  ; 

*  my  feelings  cannot  point  them  out  to  me.     I  here- 

*  with  return  the  original  letters  which  you  require. 

*  THE  subject  of  your  next  clause  is  of  a  very  se- 

*  rious  nature  and  weighty  consequence  indeed  ;   be- 

*  fore  I  enter  particularly  into  that,  I  must  request 

*  you  will  be  se  kind  as  to  inform  me,  whether  you 
«  deem  the  capitulation  dissolved  ?  You  tell  me,  Lord 

VOL.  II.  Z 


4  Cornwallis  has  frequently  applied  to  General  Greene 
«  for  an  equitable  exchange  of  prisoners.     I  can  also 

*  assure  you,  that  General  Greene,  in  a  letter  to  Ge- 

*  neral  M'Intosh,  mentions  that  he  proposed  such  a 
4  measure  to  Lord  Cornwallis ;  and  I  can  also  assure 
1  you,  that  by  a  letter  from  a  delegate  in  Congress 
1  we  are  warranted  to  say,  that  Congress  has  proposed 
«  a  plan  for  a  general  exchange,  which  Sir  Henry 

*  Clinton  approved,  and  signified  to  Gen.  Washing- 
1  ton  his  readiness  to  proceed  on  it;  and,   for  ought 
'  we  know,  is  at  this  moment  taking  place  ;  how- 
4  ever,  the  sending  of  us  to  the  West-India  islands 

*  cannot  expedite  the  exchange  one  moment;  neither 
1  can  the  measure  alleviate  the  distresses  of  those  of 
'  your  officers  who  are  prisoners,  as  you  must  be  well 

*  assured  such  treatment  as  we  receive  will  be  fully 

*  retaliated  by  Gen.  Washington. 

4 1  AM  sorry  to  hear  Gen.  Marion  should  use  any 
4  prisoners  ill ;  it  is  contrary  to  his  natural  disposi- 
4  lion :  I  know  him  to  be  generous  and  humane. 
'  Before  you  proceed  to  extremities  I  must  request 
4  you  will  permit  me  to  send  an  officer  to  General 
4  Greene,  with  a  copy  of  your  letter,  and  the  pro- 
4  ceedings  of  the  court,  with  the  letters  relative  to 
4  Lieut.  Col.  Grimkie  and  Major  Habersham  for  his 

*  inspection. 

*  I  am,  £cc. 

*  WM.  MOUI.TRII.' 


175 
PROCEEDINGS  OF  A  COURT  OF  INQUIRY, 

HELD  BY  ORDER  OF  LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  BALFOUR, 
COMMANDANT  OF    CHARLESTOWN,    &C. 

CHARLESTOWN,  March  23d,  1781. 

MAJOR  M' Arthur  of  the  seventy-first  regiment, 
President. 

CAPTAIN  Bean  of  the  sixtieth  regiment,  Captain 
Blacke  of  the  twenty-third  regiment,  members. 

MAJOR.  Barry  laid  before  the  court  the  letters 
No.  1  and  2,  addressed  to  Lieutenant  J.  F.  Grimkie 
and  Major  John  Habersham,  Haddrell's-point. 

MR.  Charles  Wroughton  master  of  a  galley  sta- 
tioned near  Haddrell's-point,  appeared  before  the 
court,  and  the  following  questions  were  put  to  him 
by  Major  Barry,  viz : 

Q.  WHAT  conversation  had  you  with  Captain 
Shubrick  when  he  was  a-long  side  the  galley  ? 

A.  I  ALWAYS  speak  all  boats  passing  near  the 
galley  on  their  way  to  Haddrell's-point.  Captain 
Shubrick,  with  two  ladies,  totally  unknown  to  me, 
came  in  a  boat  a-long  side  the  galley  ;  as  I  had  not 
the  pleasure  of  knowing  the  ladies,  I  asked  them  for 
their  passes,  and  Captain  Shubrick  made  answer, 
*  That  one  was  his  lady,  and  he  did  not  conceive  that 
she  had  occasion  for  a  pass,'  or  words  to  that  pur- 
pose. I  then  asked  Captain  Shubrick  if  he  had 
any  letters,  he  answered  *  No.f  Lieutenant  John- 


176 

i 

ston  commanding  the  galley,    then  permitted   the 
boat  to  go  a-shore. 

Q.  (By  the  court.)  WAS  any  person  present  at 
the  time  of  your  asking  Captain  Shubrick  if  he  had 
letters  ? 

A.  No,  none  to  my  knowledge,  except  those  in 
the  boat  with  Captain  Shubrick. 

ENSIGN  Place,  assistant  commissary  of  prisoners, 
appeared  before  the  court ;  and  Major  Barry  put 
Uie  following  questions  to  him,  viz  : 

Q.  WHAT  passed  between  you  and  Captain  Sim- 
brick,  respecting  the  two  letters  ? 

A.  CAPTAIN  Shubrick  told  me  the  officer  of  the 
galley  had  desired  him  to  inform  me  that  Mrs.  Shu- 
brick was  in  the  boat,  and  he  desired  to  know  if  I 
had  any  objections  to  her  landing  ;  I  said  not,  and 
proceeded,  as  usual,  upon  business,  which  was  that 
of  asking  for  letters ;  but  I  do  not  recollect  I  asked 
him  for  any,  though  he  gave  me  several. 

MR.  Charles  Wroughton  further  informed  the 
court,  that  when  he  went  a-shore,  he  was  surprised 
to  find  Mr.  Place  had  received  letters  from  Captain 
Shubrick. 

CAPTAIK  Shubrick  being  called  upon  to  answer  to 
the  evidence  of  Mr.  Wroughton  and  Mr.  Place, 
declared  positively  to  the  court,  that  he  never  was 
asked  for  letters,  by  the  master  of  the  galley  or  any 
one  else  on  board  ;  that  the  orders  he  received  from 


177 

the  galley  respecting  the  ladies  were  strictly  com- 
plied with.  He  further  declared,  that  Mr.  Place 
never  asked  him  for  letters  but  that  he  gave  them  to 
him.  He  further  added,  that  he  went  to  Mr.  Place 
first  to  get  permission  for  Mrs.  Shubrick  and  the 
other  lady  to  land  ;  and  when  they  were  landed,  he 
went  a  second  time  to  Mr.  Place  and  delivered  the 
letters. 

RESPECTING  the  letters  No.  1  and  2,  Lieut.  Col. 
Grimkie  and  Major  Habersham  confessed  to  the 
court,  that  upon  a  strict  and  serious  examination  in- 
to the  parole  given  to  the  officers  at  Haddrell's-point, 
they  certainly  have  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  that 
parole  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  hoped  the  court  would 
not  consider  it  in  a  criminal  light,  nor  as  from  a  de- 
sire, by  any  means,  to  prejudice  his  Majesty's  ser- 
vice, but  merely  to  divert  a  few  hours  of  tedious  cap- 
tivity. 

LIEUT.  Colonel  Grimkie,  in  order  to  convince  the 
court  of  the  innocence  of  the  correspondence,  further 
informs  the  court,  that  the  gazette  alluded  to  in 
Mr.  Kean's  letter,  was  only  a  recapitulation  or  men- 
tion of  those  numerous  and  trifling  reports,  which 
commonly  prevailed  among  the  officers  at  Haddrell's- 
point. 

LIEUTENANT  Colonel  Grimkie  and  Major  Haber- 
sham further  informed  the  court,  that  any  news  or 
information  that  was  sent  Mr.  Kean,  was  prevailing 


178 

at  Haddrell's-point  about  six  weeks  before  Mr.  Kean 
received  it,  from  which  they  conceived  no  design  of 
hurt  could  be  intended  to  his  majesty's  arms. 

LIEUTENANT  Colonel  Grimkie  and  Major  Haber- 
sham,  respecting  that  part  of  the  parole,  viz  :  {  Or 

*  have  intercourse,  or  hold  correspondence  with  his 
<  enemies'  they  conceived  it  only  extended  to  persons 
without  the  British  lines,  or  such  as  were  wavering 
in  their  principles. 

AND  further,  in  order  to  shew  the  real  intention 
of  the  gazette,  the  motto  prefixed  to  it,  was 
'  Dissipant  nugx  curas  edaces.' 

THE  following  letters  from  Mr.Kean  were  the  cause 
of  Colonel  Grimkie's  and  Major  Habersharn's  being 
confined  ;  they  were  delivered  to  the  commissary  of 
prisoners,  and  sent  by  him,  to  the  commandant. 

COPY  or  MR.  KEAN'S  LETTER  FROM  BEAUFORT,  TO 
LIEUT.  COL.  GRIMKIE  AT  HADDRILL'S-POINT. 

<  March  4th,   1781. 
No.  1.     «  SWEET  are  the  gratulations  of  friendship, 

*  especially  to  a  heart  buried  in  sorrow  ;   your  friend- 
4  ly  letter  has  roused  me,   and  from   this  moment  I 
«  drive  the  fiend  from  me.     SORROW,  thou  drawer 

*  of  gloomy  dejecting  pictures,  thou  anticipater  and 

*  prolonger  of  misery,  thou  destroyer  »f  health,  con- 

*  tent,  and  peace  of  mind,  avaunt;  nor  ever  more  per- 


179 

t  vade  the  sacred  mansions  of  my  friends.  My  heart 

*  has  no  room  but  for  my  mistress  and  my  friends. 
1 1  am  not  ordered  to    Charlestown  ;  no  town,  no 

*  charms  shall  keep  me  from  you  when  I  am  ordered, 
'  if  I  can  gain  permission  to  come  where  you  are. 

*  The  amusements  you  prevailed  on  Habersham 
'  to  send  me  have  given  me  the  greatest  satisfaction ; 
'  was  I  to  send  you  a  gazette  for  this  latitude  how 
'  different  would  it  be. 

4 1  AM  sorry  to  allay  any  joyous  moments  you  may 
1  possess  by  repetition  of  losses ;  however,  for  fear 

*  common  fame  might  say  more  than  there  is  occa- 

*  sion  for,  I  will  tell  you  myself.     You  know  I  am  a 

*  provident  lad,  and  not  having  occasion  to  make  use 
'  of  my  crops  of  Indigo,  for  these  last  three  years 

<  past,   I  had  left  them  at  Augusta,  and  they  were 
'  coming  down  Savannah  river  in  order  to  be  turned 

*  into  money   for  my  travelling  expenses,  with  all 
4  my  present  year's  provision  :    the  genius  of  the 

*  river,  has  taken  a  fancy   to  it,  himself;    and  has 
'  chosen  to  impurple  his  robe  at  my  expense,  say 
'  about  1,000  pounds  sterling. 

1 1  AM  sorry  for  the  reduction  of  your  regiment, 

*  for  I  fear  it  was  literally  reduced  ;    your  known 

<  abilities  can  never  want  employ  ;  we  will  strike  out 

*  some  plan  for  an  exertion  of  your  abilities,  and  our 
(  friendship  shall  be  a  stimulas  to  carry  us  to  the 

*  pinnacle  of  fame ;  I  have  a  long  race  to  run  ere 


180 

*  I  gain  the  height  you  already  have  :    Pliny  says 
<  there  are  but  two  points  of  view  worthy  our  atten- 
4  tion,  the  endless  duration  of  fame,  or  the  extent  of 
'  life  :  those  who  are  governed  by  the  former,  must 
'  pursue  it   with  unremitting  ardor  ;    those  who  are 
4  influenced  by  the  latter  should  quietly  resign  them- 
«  selves  to  repose,  nor  wear  out  a  short  life   in,  pe- 
'  rishable  pursuits. 

*  WRITE  me  frequently,  and  tell  Hab.  not  to  fail 
4  to  send  me  his  monthly  exercises. 

*  THAT  you  may  enjoy  a  Mahometan  paradise  in 
'  this  world,  and  such  a  heaven  as  is  most  pleasing- 

*  in  the  next,  is  the  wish  of  your  sincere  friend. 

(Signed)  *  JOHN  KEAN.' 

COPY  OF  A  LETTER  WROTE  TO  MAJOR  HABERSHAM, 
BY  TBS  SAME. 

'  March  5th,  1781. 

No.  2.  *  I  THANK  you,  my  dear  Jack,  for  your 
'  friendly  congratulations  ;  and  ^believe  me,  I  have 
'  not  received  more  true  pleasure,  since  my  capti- 

*  vity,  than  your  letter  afforded  me  :    your  gazette 
4  has  roused  my  mind  from  a  lethargy  into  which  it 
'  was  sunk  by  accounts  so  diametrically  opposite,  that 
«  I  supposed  there  was   nothing  on  this  continent, 

Mon.   Rochambeau  to  make  any  opposition  : 
'  indeed,  to  such  a  degree  of  apathy  had  I  sunk,  that, 

*  save  yourself  and  two  or  three  more,   I  cared  not 


131 

*  if  the  whole  world  had  betn  perfectly  annihilated  : 
5  it  is  truly  a  rascally  world. 

*  LECH  MORE  our  present  commandant,  you  know, 
{  is  my  particular  acquaintance  ;  besides,  you  kno\v> 

*  I  am  of  a  kind  of  placid  disposition.     Let  me  alone ; 

*  do  not  come  in  my  way,  and  I  will  let  you  do  as 
'  you  please;  this  is   the  reason  I  fancy  why  I  have 
1  not  been  ordered  to  Charlesto\vn. 

*  IT  is  certainly  most  convenient  for  me  to  be  here, 

*  but  it  has  exposed  me  to  most  severe  trials  ;  figure 

*  to  yourself  an  aged  mother,  a  youthful  sister,  (all 
'  that  remains  of  a  once  numerous  family)  looking 
1  up  to  me,  the  only  male  left  of  their  line,  and  ad- 
'  ding  their  entreaties  to  those  who  stile  themselves 

*  my  friends,  to  become  a  subject :  we  should  sin- 
'  cerely  pray  against  temptation.     I  do  heartily  hope 
c  to  be  endowed  with  a  sufficient  degree  of  fortitude, 
'  to  withstand  every  attempt :    should  I  not,  with 
c  those  who  know  my  situation,  I  shall  receive  some 

*  degree  of  credit,   that  I   have  so  lohg  withstood 

*  such  powerful  persuaders.    Remember  CORIOLANUS 

*  fell  in  the  most  virtuous  time  of  the- Romans  :  if  I 
c  do,  (which  heaven  forbid)  it  will  be  the  most  vir- 

*  tuous  of  my  country. 

'  ADIEU  to  serious   subjects!     live  all  the  little 
<  amusements  that  enable  us  to  pass  away  our  pro- 

*  bationary  stay  in  this  transitory  world.     I  sincerely 
(  condole  with   you  for  your  amazing  loss,  and,  had 

VOL.   IT.  2  A 


182 

«  I  not  bid  farewell  to  serious  subjects,  I  would  tell 
«  you  of  one  that  I  have  met  with. 

'  MY  poetical  genius  has  left  me  a  long  time  ;  the 
'  mind  ill  at  ease,  cannot  please,  nor  strike  out  any 
(  gay  thought.  I  have  sent  you  a  copy  from  a  good 
1  author,  which,  perhaps  (as  I  imagine  you  have  no 

*  library)  may  fill  up  a  gap  in  your  gazette.     Re- 
4  peat  the  dose    monthly  of  your  amusement,  it  will 
f  awaken  my  genius  perhaps. 

*  Adieu  my  friend,  &c. 

<  JOHN  KKAN.' 

THE  court  having  duly  considered  the  evidence 
for  and  against  Lieutenant  Colonel  Grimkie  and 
Major  Habersham,  both  of  the  American  army, 
is  of  opinion  they  are  guilty  of  a  breach  of  their  pa- 
roles, in  corresponding,  by  letters,  with  a  man  not  in 
the  King's  peace,  and  who  is  at  Beaufort. 

FROM  LT.  COL.  GRIMKIE. 

«  SlH, 

1  IN  obedience  to  your  order  of  March  the  twen- 
4  ty-third,  I  repaired  to  Charlestown,  and  attended 
'  at  Lieutenant  Colonel  Balfour's,  for  the  purpose  of 
'  explaining  the  nature  of  a  correspondence,  which 
'  I  had  held  with  Mr.  Kean  at  Port-royal.  Captain 

*  Barry's  secretary  informed  me  that  a  court  of  offi- 

*  CCTS  had  been  ordered  to  investigate  the  matter. 


183 

*  and  that  I  must  attend  thereon  :    I  was  much  sur« 
'  prised  at  the  mode  of  inquiry  pointed  out,  and  ex- 

*  pressed  my  sentiments  accordingly  ;    concluding 
'  with  a  desire  that  Col«nel  Balfour  would  suffer  me 

*  to  see  him,  as  I  was  certain  I  could  explain  the 

*  whole  occurrence  to  his  satisfaction,  without   the 
<  mediation  of  a  court :   but  this   requ  est  was  pe- 
'  remptorily  objected  to;  and  Captain  Barry  demand- 

*  ed,     in  a  very  importunate  manner,     a  specific 
f  answer,  whether  I  would  appear  before  the  court 
1  of  officers,  ordered  to  assemble  on  the  occasion  ? 

*  I  reflected,  as  no  other  means  of  inquiry  were  left 

V 

'  to  me  but  this  court,  that  I  should  gratify   my  ene- 

*  mies  in  a  most  essential  point,  and  with  the  most 

*  singular  advantage.    Had  I  continued  to  refuse  the 

*  explanation,  in  the  way  it  was  demanded  of  me, 
'  they  might  have  represented,  that,  conscious  of  an 

*  intentional  criminality  in  the  correspondence  allu- 

*  ded  to,  I  had  purposely  avoided  the  inquiry,  not 

*  daring  to  submit  my  conduct  to  the  view  of  man- 
«  kind  ;  and  that  I  preferred  laying  under  the  suspi- 

*  cion  only  of  being  guilty,    rather  than  confirm  it 
'  by  my  own  examination  :  the  natural  consequences 

*  would  have  been,  that  I  should  have  been  conveyed 
'  to  some  place  of  confinement ;  and,  under  the  se- 
4  verest  interdictions,  have  been   precluded  all  mode 

*  of  explanation  and  appeal :  this  conduct,  I  foresaw, 
4  would  have  contributed  to  the  pregnant  suspicions 


184 

'  of  mankind,  and  to  my  own  condemnation.  The 
«  subsequent  part  of  their  conduct  towards  me,  evin- 
«  ces  the  propriety  of  my  behavior  upon  this  occa- 
'  sion,  and  the  justice  of  this  reflection  :  to  remove, 

*  therefore,  a  calumny  of  the  most  illiberal  kind,  I 
1  was  compelled  to  listen  to  their  proposals  of  a  court, 

*  sensible  that  nothing  criminal  could  be   alledged 

*  against  me,  SUPPORTED  BY  FACTS. 

4  CAPT.  Barry  laid  before  the  court  a  letter  written 
4  by  Mr.  Kean  at  Beaufort  to  me.     There  are  few 

*  sentences,  which,  even  in  the  cooler  hours  of  rea- 

*  son,  considered  abstractedly,   and  unsupported  by 

*  the  general  tenor  of  the  subject,  may  not  be  per- 

*  verted,  and  which  may  not  admit  of  several  modes 
'  of  construction.     In  the  present  precarious  mo- 
1  ments  which  awaken  suspicion  and  tend  to  create 

*  jealousies  and  distrusts :  the  fears  of  an  enemy  may 

*  be  alarmed  by  the  most  trifling  incidents.     Several 
4  paragraphs  of  this  letter  were  pointed  out  as  ob- 

*  noxious,  and  which  required  an  explanation.     The 
'  most  natural,  as  well  as  the  most  immediate   and 

*  ready  answers  were  given  to  every  exceptionable 

*  part ;    but,  nevertheless,    words  were    deprived  of 
'  their  intrinsic  meaning,  and  a  sense  imposed  upon 
4  the  different  paragraphs  foreign  to  the  intention  of 

*  the  writer;  for  instance,  the  word  amusement  was 
4  said  to  mean  information,  and  the  Latin  word  nugor, 
4  which  literally  and  properly  signifies  trifles,   WAS 


185 

*  forced  to  assume  the  meaning  of  Jolly*     This  sus- 

*  picion  I  deemed  excusable  in  people  who  had  them- 

*  selves  given  such  recent  and  notorious  proofs,  that 

*  they  deemed  themselves  bound  by  no  engagements 
'  in  infringing  the  articles  of  a  most  sacred  capitula- 

*  tion.     They  could  not  but  be  of  opinion  that  their 

*  conduct  not  only  merited,  but  would  have  justified 
1  any  mode  of  retaliation.     It  is  more  than  probable. 

*  that  men  devoid  of  the  finer  feelings  of  honor,  would 

*  suspect  a  recrimination  of  injuries  from  a  person 

*  whom  they  had  also  previously  injured  :  such  appre- 

*  hensions  are  natural  to  the  weak,  the  base,  and  the 

*  guilty ;  for  they  are  incapable,   from  an  irrecover- 

*  able  badness  of  heart,   to  conceive  a  soul  equal  to 
<  the  sufferings  of  injuries  imposed  on  it ;   and  for  a 

*  forbearance  of  its  just  resentment  at  the  same  mo- 
1  ment.     To  remove,  therefore,  these  plausible  jea- 
1  louaies,   I  candidly  proposed  to  the  court  that  they 

*  would  permit  me  to  write   to   Mr.  Kean,  whom  I 

*  would  request  to  send  immediately  the  necessary 

*  papers  to  me  ;  and  that  they  would  defer  the  con- 

*  sideration  of  this    matter   until    I    could  procure 
'  them  ;  they  were  absolutely  necessary  for  an  elu- 
1  cidation  of  the   subject :     they  were  absolutely  ne- 

*  cessary  for  their  information,  and  also  for  my  de- 

*  fence  and  acquittal.     So  sudden  and  unexpected  a 
'  proposal  gave  the  alarm  of  the  consciousness  of  my 
'  own  innocence  and  the  certainty  of  my  acquittal  ; 


186 

*  but  this  reasonable  demand  was  not  listened  to  by 
<  the  court.     I  am  yet  in  doubt  to  resolve,  whether 

*  this  neglect  proceeded  from  the  native  propensity 
«  of  the  court,  or  from  the  dictatorial  mandate  which 

*  was  now  delivered  to  them  by  captain  Barry,  and 
'  which  they  said  proceeded   from   Lt.  Col.  Balfour. 
«  Capt.  Barry  told  the  court  that  the  contents  of  the 
'  letters  were  by  no  means  an  object  of  their  con- 
4  sideration  ;  that  it  was  wholly  out  of  their  province 
'  to  judge  of  tne  criminality  of  the  expressions  ;  and 

*  that  be  the  subject  ever  so  innocent  the  fact  alone 

*  of  having  corresponded  constituted  the  guilt.     He 
'  added,  that  Mr.  Kean's  letter  sufficiently  indicated 
4  that  he  was  an  enemy  to  the  king,  and  that  my  pa- 

*  role  provided  that  no  correspondence  or  intercourse 
'  should  be  hi-J-J  with  his  enemies.     I  was  astonished 
i  at  this  new  doctrine   and  uncandid  interpretation 

*  which  was  put  upon  the  parole.     I  observed  how 
'  inequitable  it  was  to  adopt  a  literal  construction  of 
4  the  parole,  and  to  assume  a  forced  application  for 
4  the  terms  of  Mr.  Kean's  letter.     That  my  concep- 
'  tion  of  the  sense  of  the  parole  was  very  different ; 

*  I  was,  indeed,  bound  not  to  communicate   any  in- 
«  telligence  to  an  enemy  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain ; 

*  but  did  not  appear  to  preclude  my  writing  to  a 
'  friend,  who  was  a  prisoner  upon  parole,  and  within 
<  the  enemy's  lines  as  well  as  myself.     Besides,  the 
'  correspondence  was  perfectly  innocent,  and  did  no 


187 

*  injury  to  the  cause  against  which  we  were  engaged. 

<  I  had  not  endeavored  to  confirm  Mr.  Kean  in  the 
4  principles  which  he  had  adopted,  as  I  was  sensible, 

*  from  the  strength  of  his  judgment  and  the  upright- 

*  ness  of  his  heart,  that  he  would  persevere  in  so  just 

*  a  cause.     If  I  had  mistaken  the  parole,  and  been 
»  too  liberal  in  my  construction  of  it,  that  the  inten- 

*  tion  ought  to  be  weighed  by  the  court.     Supposing 
1  it  possible  that  the  interpretation  given  to  the  pa- 
1  role  by  Captain  Barry  should  be  thought  the  usual 

*  and  received  one,  I  must  then  confess  that  I  had 
1  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  it ;  but  as  it  was  without 

*  design,  and  without  criminality,  it  could  be  deemed 

*  but  an  indiscretion,  and,  consequently,  venial. 

«  IN  the  course  of  this  conference,  you  will  be  pleas- 

<  ed  to  observe  that  Mr.  Barry  changed  his  ground, 
«  who  strenuously  endeavored  to  establish  the  crimi- 

*  nality  of  the  correspondence,  by  pointing  out  such 
'  passages  as  would  bear  a  double   meaning  :  but  af- 
*'  ter  I  had  offered  to  produce  the  papers,  he  conclu- 

*  ded  with  assuring  the  court  that  it  was  not  neces- 

*  sary  to  consider  whether  the  expressions  were  cri- 
4  minal  or  not,  but  only  whether  a  correspondence 

*  existed,   for,    in  that  alone    the  guilt  lay.     Upon 

*  the  declaration  of  this  positive  command  of  Colo- 

*  nel  Balfour,  and  the  letters  alone  of  Mr.  Kean,  was 
'  founded  the  sentence  of  the  court ;  although   I  ob- 

*  serve  that  these  proceedings  positively  declare  an 


188 

«  acknowledgement  of  a  breach  of  my  parole,  arid 

*  that  they  pronounced  their  sentence  upon  that  con- 

<  fession,  without  making  any   mention  whatever  of 

<  the  doubts  which  had  arisen  in  my  breast,  concern- 
« ing  the  propriety  of  their  interpretation,  or  the  con- 
'  ditionality  of  the  acknowledgement. 

*  I  MADE  application  to  Captain  Bluck  for  a  copy 

*  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court,  which  was  refused 

*  me  :  I  must  confess  my  uneasiness  at  this  refusal, 

*  apprehending  some  omissions,  and  that  on  so  deli- 

*  cate  a  subject,  the   text  might  be   attended  with  a 

*  variety  of  constructions  ;    it   ought,    therefore,  to 

*  have  been  as  full  as  possible,  and  the  instances  of 
'  misinterpretation,  then  before   me,  pointed  out  the 
'  necessity  :  since  you  did  me  the  honor  of  the  peru- 

*  sal  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court,  I  am  sorry  to 

*  say,  I  find  my  suspicions  confirmed  ;  I  have,  there- 

*  fore,  taken   the  liberty  of  representing  to   you  the 

*  facts  as  they  happened  ;    and  supplied  tbose  disin- 

*  genuous  omissions  which  I  have  discovered. 

*  IN  consequence  of  their  opinion,  I  was  detained 
«  in  the  City-guard  for  ten  days,  without  any  allow- 

*  ance  of  provisions,  fire,  or  candles*  and  it  is  proba- 

*  ble  that  if  you  had  not  interposed  and  represented 

*  the   injustice   of  such  proceedings,    that  the  same 

*  injurious  treatment  would  have   existed  to  the  mo- 
1  ment  of  my   dismission.     Major  Habersham  who 
«  was  acquainted  witii  Major  M'Atihur  the  president 


189 

*  of  the  court,   had  two  interviews  with  him  after 
'  our    confinement ;     wherein   that  gentleman   very 
1  candidly  disavowed  the  least  suspicions  of  criminali- 
'  ty  in  our  intentions,    and  advised  us  to  write  to 

*  Colonel  Balfour.    This  advice  I  had  reason  to  think 
'  was  the  result  of  a  conference  which  he   had  held 

*  with  that  gentleman.     lie  told  us  also,  that  were 

*  the  papers  produced  which  we   had  sent  to    Mi\ 

*  Kean,  it  was  more  than  probable  we  should  imme- 

*  diately  be  dismissed.     Such  an  inconsistancy  of  bc- 

*  havior,    filled  me  with  more  astonishment,    than 

*  the  injurious  treatment  I  had  received.     At  first 

*  the  papers  are  refused  to  be  seen,  and  a  court  forms 

*  a  solemn  sentence  without   them,  though  offered  : 

*  Col.  Balfour  sends  them  word  it  is  not  necessary  to 
4  consider  the  contents  of  the  letters ;  and  afterwards 

*  he  thinks  it  requisite  that  they  should  be  laid  before 
4  himself.     I  treated  this  childish  behavior  with  the 
'  contempt  it  deserved,  and  would  not  take  any  steps 

*  to  produce  the  papers  required.     The  confinement 

*  in  a  public  prison,  and  the  charge  of  the  crime,  of 

*  the  deepest  die,  left  open  no  door  of  reconciliation 

<  or  further  explanation  on  my  part.     One  day's  im- 

*  prisonment  drew  upon  me  the  suspicions  of  the 

*  people,     and  the  continuance   of  the  punishment 

*  could  avail  no  more.     I  presumed  that  as  soon   as 
'  Mr.  Kean  arrived  in  town,  he  would  be  able  to  ex- 

<  plain  such  matters  as  they  were  solicitous  to  make 

2   B 


190 

<  appear  mysterious.     The  consequence  of  his  letter 

*  was,  that  on  the  17th  April  we  were  informed,  that 
'  Col.  Balfour  was  convinced  that  we  had  not  inten- 

*  tionally  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  paroles,  but  that 
4  he  could  not  release  us  until  he  had  heard  from 
4  Lord  Cornwallis ;  to  whom  he  had  written  upon  the 
4  subject.     This  was  a  very  extraordinary  confession 
4  of  our  innocence,  indeed,  since  no  new  matter  was 
4  laid  before  Colonel  Balfour  which  could  have  indue- 

*  ed  him  to  have  changed  his  opinion.     I  told  Ma- 
4  jor  Fraser  that  I  imagined  Colonel  Balfour  had  been 
4  perfectly  convinced  of  the  purity  of  our  intentions 
4  ever  since  he  had  received  the  proceedings  of  the 
4  court,  which  he   candidly  acknowledged  ;   whilst  I 
4  had  reason  to  believe  that  Colonel  Balfour  was  con- 
4  vinccd  of  the   propriety  of  his  own  conduct,  I  re- 
4  mainecl  satisfied,  though  I  could  not  approve  of  it  ; 
4  nay,  sir,  I  even  acknowledged  the  justice  of  the 
4  confinement  I  was  suffering,  whilst  I  was  persuad- 
4  ed  that  Colonel  Balfour's  conduct  proceeded  from 
4  a  mistaken  principle,  and  not  from  the  wanton  ex- 
4  crtion  of  a  temporary  power.  It  is  difficult  to  judge 
4  what  were  my  feelings  when  I  was  informed  that  I 
4  was  acknowledged  not  to  be  guilty  intentionally  or 
4  criminally,  but  that  notwithstanding  this  declaration, 
'  I  had  not  only  been  punished,  but  was  to  experience 
4  a  continuance  thereof :    could  language  be  more 
4  insulting  or  could  actions  be  more  malicious.     Is 


191 

«  it  possible  that  any  man  can  have  so  base,    so  ser- 
c  rile  a  spirit,  as  to  exercise  an  office  whose  charac" 

<  teristic    function    is    an   indiscriminate     infliction 

*  of  punishment,  without  the  additional  property  of 
4  dispensing  justice  or  extending  mercy  ?     At  length, 
1  after  a  confinement  of  five  weeks,   I  was  told  by 
'  Major  Fraser,   that  letters  had  been  received  from 
'  Lord   Cornwallis,    and   that   his    lordship   was   of 
'  opinion,  that  we  had  not  been  guilty  of  a  breach  of 
'  parole  ;     this  part  of   their  behavior  deserves  as 

*  little  attention  as  credibility,  though  it  was  not  the 
1  least  extraordinary.     It  is  well  known  that  Major 
'  Benson,    who  attended  General  Scott,    did  not  see 
'  General  Greene,  and  that  they  did  not  know  where 
1  to  find   Lord  Cornwallis,*   and  therefore  returned 

<  without  having  executed  that  part  of  their  com- 
(  mission. 

*  I  AM  sorry,  sir,    that  I  was  not  acquainted  with 

*  the    opportunity  you    had  of  writing   to  General 

<  Greene,     and  of   your  intention  of  inclosing  the 


*  The  British  in  Charlestown,  were  very  much  at  a  loss 
to  know  what  was  become  of  Lord  Cornwaliis  :  after  the  battle 
of  Guildford,  they  could  get  no  account  of  him  ;  they  therefore 
fell  upon  this  expedient,  which  was,  to  let  General  Scott  go  to 
Virginia  upon  parole,  but  that  Major  Benson  should  atetnd 
him  until  they  came  to  Lord  Cornwallis  or  General  Greene ; 
but  in  this  they  were  disappointed,  as  a  part  of  General  Greene's 
army  met  them  and  would  not  let  them  pass,  but  ordered  them 
back  again,  and  General  Scott  returned  to  us  at  Haddrell's* 
point. 


192 

'  papers  relative  to  rae  in  your  dispatches ;   had  this 
'  explanation  been  included  in  your  packet,  it  would 

*  have  given  a  very  different  appearance  to  this  affair 
4  than  will  be  the  result  of  the  perusal  of  the  British 
1  papers.      I  have  therefore  to  request  of  you  to 

*  communicate  these  facts  to  General  Greene,  before 
'  whom  the  British  papers  have  been  laid,    and  you 
'  will  add  to  the  obligations  already  conferred  on  me. 
4  I  should   have  represented  my  situation  to  you  at 

*  an  earlier  period,   but  reflecting  that  I  had  been 
f  refused  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  court,   I 
'  did  not  imagine  that  permission  would  have  been 

*  granted  me  to  write  to  you  ;  I  therefore  declined 

*  it  until  I  should  be  released  from  my  confinement ; 
'  and  I  take  this  early  period  to  offer  you  my  warm- 
'  est  acknowledgments  for  your  interposition  in  my 
'  favor,    to  assure  you  how  sensibly  I  am  obliged  to 
'  you,  and  that 

'  I  am,  &c. 

4  J.  F.  GRINKIE.' 
*  Gen.  MOULTRIE.' 

FR«M  COL.  GKIMKIE. 

<SlH, 

«  THE  confinement  I  suffered,  in  the  City-guard 
«  of  Charlestown,  having  rendered  the  parole  which 
4  I  gave  upon  the  surrender  of  that  place  null  and 

*  void,  and  no  other  promise  or  parole  having  been 


c  given  by  me  since,  I  thought  myself  at  liberty  to 
'  return  to  the  duty  of  my  country.  I  have  inclosed 
1  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  written  to  me  by  Major 
'  Fraser  the  night  before  I  left  town,  to  which  I  re- 

*  turned  no  answer  at  all.     The  situation*  in  which 
1  you  are,   precluded  me  from  asking  your  opinion 
'  upon  a  point  of  so  much  delicacy ;  I  have  therefore 
'  left  my  reasons  for  your  perusal ;  hoping  that  I  shall 
'  be    vindicated    in    your  opinion,    which    I    highly 

*  esteem,  and  in  that  of  the  other  officers,  prisoners 

*  at  Haddrell's-point. 

1  I  am,  &c. 

«  J.  F.  GRIMKIE.' 
'  Gen.  MOULTRIE-'  • 

COLONEL  Grimkie  went  off  and  joined  General 
Greene's  anny. 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

<  March  2 1st,  1781. 

<SlR, 

«  You  cannot  possibly  be  more  tired  with  read- 
'  ing  my  letters  than  I  am  of  writing  them  ;    yet  I 

*  must  intrude  upon  your  multiplicity  of  business,  and 
<  remonstrate  against  every  violation  of  the  capitula- 
'  tion,  and  represent  every  grievance  which  occurs  to 

*  us,  whether  they  are  attended  to  or  not.     What  I 

*  A  prisoner, 


194 

1  am  now  to  remonstrate  against,  is  a  most  violent 
'  and  inhuman  breach  of  the  capitulation  ;  which  is 
'  the  impressing  the  American  soldiers  from  on  board 
1  the  prison-ships,  taking  them  away  by  violence,  and 
'  sending  them  on  board  the  transports,  to  be  carried 

*  from  the  continent  of  America  ;*  many  of  them 
'  leaving  wives  and  young  children,  who  may  possi- 

*  bly  perish  for  want  of  the  common  necessaries  of 
4  life  ;  if  I  cannot  prevail  upon  you  to  countermand 
1  this  violation  altogether,    let  me  plead  for  those  un- 
'  happy  ones  who  have  families  to  be  exempted  from 

*  this  cruelty.    I  beg  you  will  consider  their  situation 

*  and  suffer  your  humanity  to  be  partial  in  their  favor. 

*  I  am,  &c, 

*  WILLIAM  MOULTRIE.' 

No  answer  to  this  letter. 

To  LT.  COL.  BALFOUR. 

«  April  3d,   1781. 
«  SIR, 

«  I  AM  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your's  of 

*  yesterday's  date,  and  as   I  cannot  be  permitted  to 
1  Bend  an  officer  to  General  Greene  with  my  dis- 

*  patches,  I  have  sent  them  down  for  your  perusal, 

*  and  request  the  favor  you  will  forward  them  :  I  am 


*  Several  hundreds  of  tlicrn  were  forced  to  inlist  in  Lord 
Charles  Montague's  regiment,  and  were  canicd  to  Jamaica. 


195 

*  also  to  request  that  I  may    be  permitted  to  send  to 

<  Congress  your  letter  and  my  answer,    relative  to 

<  the  sending  the  continental  and  militia  prisoners  of 
'  war  to  the  West-Indies ;  which,  if  you  agree  to,  I 
4  have  sent  down  to  be  put  immediately  on  board  the 

*  flag  going  to  Philadelphia,  that  she  may  not  be  de- 

*  tained  one  moment. 

<  I  am,  8cc. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

To  GEN.  GREENE. 

'  April  3d,   1781- 

<  SIR, 

*  I  DO  myself  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the 
'  copies  of  two  letters  received  from  Lieutenant  Colo- 

*  nel  Balfour  commandant  in  Charlestown  and  my 
c  answer  thereto,  relative  to  the   sending  the  conti- 

*  nental  and  militia  prisoners  of  war  to  the  West-In- 
'  dies  ;  and  also  the  copies  of  the  proceedings  of  a 

*  court  of  inquiry,  ordered  by  Colonel  Balfour,  to  ex- 

*  amine  a  charge  against  Lieutenant  Colonel  Grim- 
4  kie  and  Major  Habershatn,  for  a  breach  of  parole  : 
1  the  letters   and  papers  are  numbered  as  follows, 

*  which  if  you  find  right,  I  request  the  favor  you  will 

*  signify  to  me  by  the  return  of  the  bearer. 

'  I  am,  Sec. 

'  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 


196, 

FROM  MAJ.  FRASER. 

«  April  29th  1781,  8  at  night. 
«  SIR, 

4  I  BEG  leave  to  acquaint  you  that  a  boat  will  be 

*  ready  at  Wragg's-wharf  to-morrow    morning,   at 
1  half  past  eiiajht  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
'  you,  Major  Habersham,  your  servants  and  baggage 

*  to  Haddrell's-point ;  where  you  will  consider  your- 

*  selves  on  parole,  in  the  same  situation  with  the  rest 

*  of  the  officers  there.     I  will  thank  you  to  commu- 

*  nicate  this  to  Major  Habersham. 

*  I  have  the  honor,  See. 

<  C.  FRASER.  Town  Major. 

*  Lieut.  Col.  GRIMKIE.' 

To  MAJ.    BENSON. 

«  April  30th,  1781. 
<  SIR, 

*  I  R  E  c  E  IVE  B  your's  at  twelve  o'clock,  in  which 
'  you  inform  me,  that  the  commandant  wishes  to  see 

*  me  on  business  of  consequence.     I  must  request 

*  you  will  make  my  compliments,  and  I  will  wait  on 

*  him  to-morrow  morning. 

*  I  am,  8cc. 

'  W>r.  MOUI.TRIE." 


197 

To  COL.  BALFOUR. 

*  CHARLES-TOWN,  May  2d,  1781. 
<  SIR, 

1  AT  your  request,  by  letter  from  Major  Benson 

*  I  came  to  town  yesterday,  on  some  business  of  con- 

*  sequence,    on   which  I  was  informed  you  would 

*  wish  to  speak  to  me  ;  on  my  arrival  I  sent  my  aid- 

*  de-camp,  Captain  Shubrick,  to   acquaint  you,  and 
'  to  know   what  hour  you  would  wish  to  see  me ; 
'  you  appointed  this  morning  at  ten  o'clock ;  I  ac- 
'  cordingly    attended  at    your    quarters,    and  after 
t  waiting  some  little  time,   was  much  surprised  to 

*  find,     instead  of  your    speaking  to  me,   a  verbal 
'  message  delivered  by  Major  Barry ;    by  whom  I 

*  was  informed  that  you  were  then  so  busy  that  you 

*  could  not  see  me  ;  but  that  he  had   it  in  charge  to 

*  acquaint  me,  "  That  the  continental  and  militia  offi- 
"  cers  were  to  be  sent  to  Long-Island,     (instead  °* 
«'  the  West-Indies,  as   had  been  threatened  before) 
"  at    the   particular   request    of  General  Greene." 
t  However  polite  you  may  conceive  this  treatment, 
'  I  look  upon  it  quite   otherwise ;  and  hope  for  the 

*  future,  when  a  matter  of  so  much  consequence,  as 

*  the  total  dissolution  of  a  capitulation  is  to  be  trans- 

*  acted,   that  it  will  be  done  by  letter,  when  no  mis- 

*  understandings  can  be  pleaded  on  either  side ;   and 

VOL.  ii  2  e 


198 

«  I  therefore   request  that  Major  Barry's  message 
«  may  be  transmitted  to  me  in  writing. 
«  I  am,  &c. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE.' 

ARTICLES  of  a  CARTEL  for  the  exchange  and  relief 
of  prisoners  of  war,  taken  in  the  Southern  depart- 
ment; agreed  to  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Claudius  Pe- 
gues  on  Peedee,  the  third  of  May,  1781  j  between 
Captain  Cornwallis,  on  the  part  of  Lieutenant 
General  Earl  Cornwallis;;  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Carrington,  on  the  part  of  Major  General  Greene. 
1  I.  THAT  regular  troops  be  exchanged  for  regu- 
lars, and  militia  for  militia. 

*  II.    THAT  men  inlisted  for  six  months  and  up- 
wards in  continental  or  state  service  be  looked  upon 
as  regulars. 

«  III.  THAT  the  mode  of  exchange  be  rank  for 
rank,  as  far  as  similar  ranks  shall  apply. 

*  IV.    THAT  officers  be  exchanged  by  rotation, 
according  to  date  of  captive  ;  but  a  reciprocal  option 
to  be  exercised  as  to  subjects,  in  non-commissioned 
and  privates,  by  naming  particular  corps  or  particu- 
lar persons. 

'  V.  THAT  no  non-commissioned  officer  or  pri- 
vate soldier  admitted  to  parole,  shall  be  considered 
as  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  finally  liberated,  unless 
paroled  on  the  faith  of  a  commissioned  officer. 


199 

<  VI.  THAT  officers  who  cannot  be  exchanged 
for  want  of  similar  ranks  to  apply,  be  immediately 
paroled  to  their  respective  homes  until  exchanged  ; 
subject  to  be  recalled  for  a  breach  thereof,  or  for  a 
violation  of  the  cartel,  by  the  party  to  whom  they 
belong. 

1  VII.  THAT  passports  be  allowed  for  such  sup- 
plies as  may  be  sent  from  either  side,  to  prisoners 
in  captivity. 

*  VIII.     THAT  commissaries  of  prisoners  be  per- 
mitted to  pass  from  each  side  into  the  opposite  lines, 
and  reside  there,  for  the  purpose  of  viewing  and  re- 
presenting the  situations  of  the  prisoners ;  but  remo- 
ved by  the  respective  commanding  officers. 

*  IX.     THAT  prisoners  shall  not  be  sent  from  the 
continent  whilst  the  articles  of  the  cartel  continue 
to  be  observed. 

'  X.  THAT  commissaries  of  prisoners  shall  im- 
mediately put  in  practice  exchanges  on  the  above 
principles,  as  far  as  the  subjects  on  each  side  will 
go  ;  and  continue  them  in  future  as  characters  shall 
apply. 

*  XI.     THAT  the  first  delivery  of  American  pri- 
soners shall  embark  at  Charlestown,  on  or    before 
the  fifteenth  of  June,  and  sail  immediately  for  James- 
town, in  James-river,  where  the  first  delivery  of  Bri- 
tish prisoners  shall  embark,   on  or  about  the  first 


200 

week  in  July,    and  sail  immediately  to  the  nearest 
British  port. 

'  XII.  THAT  the  flag  of  truce  shall  be  sacred 
going  with  the  American  prisoners,  and  returning 
with  the  British  to  the  port  where  they  are  to  be 
delivered.' 

THIS  cartel  being  agreed  upon,  Major  Hyrne 
the  American  commissary  of  prisoners,  came  to 
Charlestown  and  proceeded  upon  the  exchange  of 
prisoners,  and  where  similar  ranks  could  not  apply, 
the  officers  were  paroled;  some  went  to  Philadelphia, 
others  to  Virginia  with  what  soldiers  were  left,  and 
the  sick  to  the  hospital. 

I  WAS  allowed  a  small  brig  for  myself  and  family, 
and  such  others  as  I  chose  to  take  on  board ;  in  con- 
sequence- of  which,  by  applications  and  intreaties 
of  my  friends,  we  had  upwards  of  ninety  souls  on 
board  that  small  brig ;  we  sailed  some  time  in  June, 
and  after  a  pleasant  passage,  arrived  safe  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  the  other  vessels  all  arrived  in  Virginia, 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Grimkie  joined  General 
Greene's  army,  he  solicited  for  a  court  of  inquiry  on 
his  conduct  at  leaving  HaddreH's-pointj  a  court  was 
accordingly  appointed,  of  which  Colonel  Harrison  of 
the  Virginia  line  of  artillery  was  president;  and  that 
they  were  unanimously  of  opinion,  that  Colonel 


201 

Grimkie  had  not  broke  his  parole,   and  that  he  was 
justifiable  in  quitting  Haddrell's-point;   which  was 
approved   of  by  General  Greene;    and  who   was  so 
strongly  impressed  with  the  justice  and  propriety  of 
his  conduct,  that  when  he  proposed  to  him  to  let  him 
have  a  party  of  troops  to  bring  off  all  his  brother 
officers  who  were  prisoners  at  Haddrell's-point,   he 
immediately  consented  to  it,    and  gave  him  a  letter 
to  General  Marion  on  the  subject,  who  was  fully  of 
opinion  that  the  officers  were  absolved  from  their 
paroles;  the  general  accordingly  furnished  him  with 
a  detachment,  with  which  he  proceeded  to  Haddrell's- 
point,   and  from  which,  he  did  not  retreat,   until  he 
had  made  the  British  commissary  prisoner  ,  within 
sight  of  the  town,  and  until  he  had  possession  of  the 
barracks  and  all  the  officers,  and  a  number  of  the 
officers  had  proceeded  on  their  way  off,  as  far  as  the 
church,  which  was  five  miles  from  the  barracks,  and 
near  the  quarters  where  General  Pinckney  and  my- 
self staid;    there  they  halted,    and   sent  to  know 
whether  we  would  go  off  with  them ;  we  refused  to 
go,  though  not  one  of  us  doubted  the  right  or  the 
propriety  of  the  measure,  because  we  were  convinced 
that  the  British  had  violated  the  capitulation,  against 
which  we  had  often  remonstrated,  but  we   expected 
soon  to  be  exchanged,    and  we  thought  it  best  to 
remain,  rather  than  run  any  risk. 

THE  circumstance  of  General  Greene's  giving  en- 


202 

couragement  to  those  officers  on  parole  to  quit  that 
parole,  if  they  could  do  it  with  security  to  their  per- 
sons, acknowledging  thereby,  as  did  every  officer  in 
our  army,  who  were  not  prisoners,  that  every  officer 
on  Haddrell's-point,  was  freed  from  the  parole  which 
he  had  given,  by  the  excessive  outrages  of  the 
British,  and  their  many  and  flagrant  violations  of 
our  capitulation. 

DURING  the  siege  of  Charlestown,  on  the  25th  of 
April,  Lord  Cornwallis  passed  over  to  Mount-Plea- 
sant with  2,000  men,  by  which  movement  we  were 
completely  invested  ;  he  soon  afterward  moved  his 
main  body  to  Brabants.* 

WHILE  the  siege  of  Charlestown  was  pending,  a 
French  fleet  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Ter- 
nay,  of  seven  ships  of  the  line  and  five  frigates  and 
a  number  of  transports,  with  five  thousand  as  good 
troops  as  any  in  France,  on  board,  hastening  to 
our  relief,  but  did  not  arrive  in  time  ;  they  were  so 
near  the  coast  as  to  take  the  vessel  that  was  carrying 
Sir  Henry  Clinton's  dispatches  to  New- York,  with  an 
account  of  the  surrender  of  Charlestown.  Their 
plan  was  to  have  gone  into  Ball's-bay,  landed  the 
troops  at  Sevee-bay,  marched  down  to  Haddrell's- 
point,  and  from  thence,  to  cross  over  to  Charlestown ; 


*  Bishop  Smith's  scat. 


203 

which  they  could  very  easily  have  done,  and  would 
have  effectually  raised  the  siege  and  taken  the  British 
fleet  in  Charlestown  harbor,  and  in  Stono-inlet  and 
in  all  probability  their  whole  army. 

COLONEL  Buford  was  marching  with  a  detachment 
of  the  Virginia  line,  between  three  and  four  hundred 
men,  and  a  few  of  Washington's  cavalry,  to  rein- 
force the  garrison  of  Charlestown  ;  but  when  he  ar- 
rived at  Nelson's-ferry,  he  received  information  of 
their  surrender  ;  upon  which  he  began  his  retreat 
for  N.  Carolina.  Lord  Cornwallis  who  being  in- 
camped  at  Brabant's,  in  St.Thomas'  parish  some  con- 
siderable time  before  the  surrender,  on  the  18th 
May  began  his  march  for  Huger's-bridge,  with  about 
2500  men  and  5  field  pieces  from  thence  to  Leneau's- 
fcrry,  on  Santee-river,  where  he  found  some  difficul- 
ty in  crossing ;  the  Americans  had  destroyed  most 
of  the  boats  ;  some  few  were  hid  in  the  swamps,  but 
the  negroes  discovered  them  and  the  army  crossed  ; 
from  whence  Colonel  Tarleton  was  sent  off  to  George- 
town to  drive  off,  or  take  any  Americans  that  were 
to  be  found  there.  Lord  Cornwallis  proceeded  on 
with  the  main  body  to  Nelson's-ferry,  where  he  was 
joined  by  Tarleton,  whom  he  immediately  detached 
with  a  body  of  about  700  infantry  and  cavalry  in  quest 
of  Colonel  Buford,  who  had  begun  his  retreat  from 
that  place  about  ten  days  before.  Colonel  Tarleton 
(who  had  discretionary  orders)  left  the  army  on  the 


204 

27th,  and  the  next  day  arrived  at  Camden,  where  he 
got  intelligence  of  Buford  ;  no  time  was  to  be  lost  to 
prevent  his  junction  with  a  detachment  of  Americans 
that  were  incamped  near  the  Catawba's.  At  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,"  the  British  being  refreshed, 
continued  their  pursuit  to  Rugley's,  and  at  daylight 
they  were  informed  that  the  continentals  had  retreat- 
ed about  twenty  miles  towards  the  Catawba  settle- 
ments to  meet  their  reinforcements.  In  order  to  de- 
tain Colonel  Buford  on  his  march  Captain  Kinlock 
was  sent  off  with  a  flag  to  summons  him  to  surrender 
upon  the  same  terms  as  the  continentals  had  in 
Charlestown  ;  informing  him  at  the  same  time,  that 
Colonel  Tarleton  had  700  infantry  and  cavalry  :  to 
which  Colonel  Buford  sent  back  a  message  of  defiance? 
at  the  same  time  continued  his  march  while  convers- 
ing with  the  flag ;  and  at  the  near  approach  of  the 
enemy  he  drew  up  his  men  in  open  order  in  the 
wood  on  the  right  of  the  road,  his  infantry  in  one 
line,  with  a  small  reserve  and  his  colors  in  the  cen- 
tre ;  his  artillery  and  waggons  he  ordered  to  continue 
on  their  march.  Colonel  Tarleton  drew  up  his  men 
in  the  following  order  at  the  distance  of  three  hun- 
dred yards.  Major  Cochran  commanded  his  right 
wing  of  sixty  dragoons,  and  as  many  mounted  in- 
fantry with  orders  to  dismount  to  gall  the  flanks: 
Captains  Corbet  and  Kinlock  with  the  dragoons  of  the 
1 7th  and  a  part  of  the  legion  to  charge  the  centre 


305 

•while  Tarleton  with  thirty  chosen  dragoons  and  some 
infantry,  were  to  attack  their  flanks  and  reserve : 
the  dragoons,  the  mounted  infantry,  and  the  three 
pounder,  were  ordered  to  form  in  the  rear  as  a  re- 
serve, as  they  came  up  with  their  tired  horses :  as 
the  British  approached,  the  Americans  were  within 
about  fifty  yards;  the  officers  called  out  *  not  to  fire 
until  they  were  within  ten  yards,'  which  Tarleton 
said  himself  <  he  was  surprised  to  hear:'  in  my 
opinion  this  was  a  great  error.  Colonel  Buford 
committed  two  very  capital  mistakes  in  this  affair  i 
the  first  was  his  sending  away  his  waggons  and  ar- 
tillery, which  ought  to  have  been  his  chief  depend- 
ance.  On  the  approach  of  the  enemy  he  ought  to 
have  formed  them  into  a  hollow  square,  with  small 
intervals  between  each  ;  in  these  intervals  to  have 
placed  platoons  ;  taking  out  the  baggage  and  placed 
ft  a  little  in  the  front  of  each  platoon,  which  would 
have  served  as  a  breast- work,  and  would  have  discon- 
certed the  cavalry  in  their  charge  :  his  field-pieces 
planted  in  the  front  angles  of  the  square  :  an  inter- 
val in  the  rear  of  the  square  for  the  cavalry,  who 
should  face  outward  asd  be  ready  to  sally  when  oc- 
casion should  offer :  six  men  in  each  waggon  :  with 
this  disposition  the  enemy  could  have  made  no  im- 
pression upon  him  :  nay,  Tarleton  would  never  have 
attacked  him.  Another  mistake  was  his  ordering 

VOL.  II.  3   D 


2O6 

his  men  not  to  fire  upon  the  enemy  (who  were  chief- 
ly cavalry)  till  they  came  within  ten  yards  of  him. 

A  RETURN  of  rebels,  killed,  wounded,  and  taken,  in 
the  aflair  at  Waxsaws,  the  29th  of  May,  1781. 
ONE  lieutenant  colonel,  three  captains,  eight  sub- 
alterns, one  adjutant,  one  quartermaster,  ninety-nine 
sergeants  and  rank  and  file,  killed  ;  three  captains, 
five  subalterns,  one  hundred  and  forty-two  sergeants 
and  rank  and  file  wounded,  unable  to  travel  and  left 
on  parale ;  one  hundred  and  thirteen  killed,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  left 
on  the  grotmd  ;  taken,  three  stand  of  colors,  two 
brass  six  pounders,  two  royals,  two  waggons  with 
ammunition,  one  artillery  forge  cart,  fifty-five  barrels 
of  powder,  twenty-six  waggons  loaded  with  new 
cloathing,  arms,  muskets,  cartridges,  new  cartridge- 
boxes,  flints  and  camp  equipage. 

(Signed,)  B.  TARLETON- 

Lieut.  Col.  Com.  B.  legion. 

A    BETURN  of  British  killed  and   wounded  in  the 

affair  at  Waxsaws,  the  29th  of  May,   1781. 
CAVALRY,  two  privates  killed  ;  one  subaltern  and 
eight  privates  wounded.     Infantry,  two  subalterns  one 
private  killed. 

Lieutenant    Pateschall  of  the     seventeenth    dra. 
goons  wounded ;  Lieut.  M'Donald  and  Lieut.  Camp. 


207 

bell  of  the   legion  killed.     Eleven  horses  killed  and 
nineteen  wounded. 

(Signed,)  B.  TARLETON 

Lieut.  Col.  Com.  B.  legion. 

MARSHALL  Saxe  says,  page  thirty,  '  At  the  battle 
i  of  Belgrade  I  sa*v  two  battalions  cut  to  pieces  in  an 
'  instant;  being  surrounded  by  a  thick  fog,  a  strong 
'  blast  of  wind  suddenly  arose  and  dispersed  it,  when 
'  we  immediately  saw  a  battalion  of  Loraine  and 

*  another  of  Neuperg   upon  a  hill,    separated   from 
4  the  rest  of  our  army  ;  Prince  Eugine  at  the  same 
'  time,  discovered  a  party  of  horse  in  motion  up  the 

*  side  of  the  mountain,  and  asked  me,  if  I  could  dis- 
4  tinguish  what  they  were  I   I  answered,   they  were 
1  thirty  or  forty  Turks  ;    then,    repeated  he,    those 
4  two   battalions    are    undone  ;     at   which    time   I 

*  could  perceive  no  appearance  of  their  being  at- 

*  tacked,   not  being  able  to  see   what  was  on  the 
'  other  side  of  the  mountain,  but  galloping  up  at  full 

*  speed,  I  no  sooner  arrived  in  the  rear  of  Neuperg's 
'  colors,  than  I  saw  the  two  battalions  present,  and 

*  give  a  general  fire  upon  a  large  body  of  Turks,    at 
'  the  distance  of  about  thirty  paces   instantaneously 
'  after  which  the  Turks  rushed  forward  through  the 

*  smoke  without  allowing  them  a  moment's  time  to 
4  fly,    and  with  their  sabres  cut  the  whole  to  pieces 
'  upon  the  spot.     The  only  persons   who  escaped, 


?os 

4  were  M.  de  Neuperg,  who  happened  luckily  to  be  on 
*  horseback,  an  ensign  who  hung  to  my  horse's  mane, 
'  and  two  or  three  privates  ;  the  Turks  of  their  own 
'  accord  retired.  Upon  the  arrival  afterwards  of 
some  cavalry  and  infantry,  M.  Neuberg  desired  a 
'  detachment  to  secure  the  clothing  ;  upon  which 
'  sentries  were  posted  at  the  four  angles  of  the  ground, 
1  occupied  by  the  dead  bodies  of  the  two  battalionsf 
4  and  their  clothes,  hats,  shoes  &tc,  collected  in  heaps 
<  together;  during  which  time  I  had  curiosity  enough 
*  to  count  the  number  of  Turks  which  might  be  de- 
4  stroyed  by  the  general  discharge  of  the  two  battal. 
'  ions,  and  found  it  amounted  only  to  thirty-two." 

THESE  two  instances  show  the  superiority  which 
cavalry  have  over  infantry. 

THIS  victory  of  Tarleton's  gained  him  the  high- 
est esteem  and  confidence  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  who 
recommended  him  in  a  very  particular  manner  to 
his  majesty's  favor.  The  total  destruction  of  Bu- 
ford's  detachment  left  South  Carolina  and  Georgia 
without  a  single  continental  soldier  but  what  were 
prisoners  of  war  :  in  this  situation  all  military  ope- 
rations and  all  opposition  to  the  British  army  were 
suspended  for  a  time  :  after  this  the  principal  object  of 
the  British  was  to  secure  the  submission  of  the  in- 
habitants throughout  the  state,  they  accordingly  sent 
detachments,  and  took  post  at  Camden,  Georgetown, 


20§ 

Cheraws,  Beaufort,  and  Congaree,  and  the  citizens 
sent  in  flags  from  all  parts,  (some  excepted  who  were 
in  the  back  parts  of  the  state  still  kept  out)  with 
their  submission  to  the  British  government,  praying 
that  they  may  be  admitted  upon  the  same  terms  as 
the  citizens  of  Charlestown. 

EARLY  in  June  Sir  Henry  Clinton  goes  to  New- 
York  with  the  main  body  of  the  British  army,  and 
leaves  about  4,000  of  the  troops  under  the  command 
of  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  came  to  Charlestown  to  ar- 
range the  civil  matters,  and  in  July  or  early  in  Au- 
gust returns  to  Camden,  leaving  Col.  Nesbet  Balfour 
commandant  in  Charlestown. 

ON  the  first  of  June  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Admi- 
ral Arbuthnot  as  commissioners  for  restoring  peace 
to  America,  issued  their  proclamation,  offering  '  to 
'  the  inhabitants,  with  a  few  exceptions,  pardon  for 
4  their  past  treasonable  offences,  and  a  reinstate- 
'  ment  of  the  possession  of  all  those  rights  and  im~ 
4  munities  which  they  hitherto  had  enjoyed  under  a 
'  free  British  government,  exempt  from  taxation, 
'  except  by  their  own  legislatures.' 

THE  people  quite  harrassed  out  and  tired  of  war; 
their  capital  fallen,  and  their  army  prisoners,  no 
place  of  safety  for  them  to  fly  to  with  their  families 
and  property  ;  the  British  troops  in  possession  of 
their  whole  country,  and  no  prospect  of  relief  from 
Ihe  neighboring  states  ;  in  this  situation  they  thought 


MO 

further  resistance  was  useless,  they  therefore  rea- 
dily accepted  of  the  pleasing  offers,  in  hopes  they 
v/ould  have  been  suffered  to  remain  peaceably  and 
quietly  at  home  •with  their  families,  and  to  have  gone 
on  with  their  business  undisturbed,  as  before  ;  but 
how  great  was  their  astonishment  three  days  after- 
wards, on  the  third  of  June,  to  see  a  proclamation 
from  the  British  commander  [See  appendix,  note  21.] 
setting  aside  all  paroles  given  to  prisoners  not  taken 
by  capitulation,  and  who  were  not  in  confinement  at 
the  surrender  of  Charlestown,  '  To  be  null  and  void 
'  after  the  twentieth  of  the  same  month  ;  and  the 

*  holders  of  them   were   called  upon  to  resume  the 

*  characters  of  British  subjects,  and  to  take  an  active 

*  part  in  forwarding  military   operations,    or  to  be 
'  considered  as  rebels  against  his  majesty's  govern- 

•  '  ment.'  This  violation  of  all  faith,  this  ill-grounded 
policy,  enrolled  into  the  American  service,  thou- 
sands of  their  citizens,  who  had  indulged  themselves 
with  the  pleasing  hopes  of  remaining  neuter  until 
the  end  of  the  war  ;  but  they  said,  '  if  we  must  fight 
let  it  be  on  the  side  of  America,  our  friends  and 
countrymen.'  A  great  many  exchanged  their  paroles 
for  protections,  and  remained  with  the  British  :  some 
few  of  them  who  were  warm  friends  to  the  British 
government,  prepared  an  address,  [See  appendix, 
note  22.}  and  carried  it  about  town,  to  be  signed 
by  the  inhabitants  ;  many  at  first  refused,  some  were 


211 

persuaded,  and  others  threatened  that  if  they  did 
not  sign,  they  would  be  informed  against :  this  to 
the  timid  was  very  alarming,  lest  they  should  be 
put  in  the  provost,  or  otherwise  ill  treated,  which 
obliged  two- hundred  and  ten  of  the  inhabitants  to 
sign  the  address.  In  answer  to  their  address  they 
were  promised  the  privileges  and  protection  of  Bri- 
tish subjects,  on  subscribing  a  test  oath  to  support 

the  royal  government. 

THE  capitulation  of  Charlestown  was  of  very  little 
benefit  to  the  citizens  who  came  under  that  compact, 
especially  those  who  refused  to  sign  the  address  ; 
the  British  found  so  many  ways  of  evading  or  viola- 
ting that  contract,  that  it  was  rendered  almost  useless 
to  the  citizens  ;  but  they  were  a  little  more  cautious 
with  the  continental  officers. 

IF  one  or  two  citizens,  in  walking  the  streets  of 
Charlestown,  should  happen  to  look  at  a  British  offi- 
cer and  smile,  they  were  sure  to  be  abused  and  per- 
haps sent  to  the  provost. 

GEN.  Lincoln,  during  the  siege  of  Charlestown, 
continued  writing  to  Congress,  to  Virginia,  and 
North  Carolina,  for  reinforcements,  representing  the 
we.ak  state  of  his  army,  and  the  dangerous  situation 
that  Carolina  was  then  in,  until  we  were  completely 
invested  ;  at  length  Congress  determined  that  a  con- 
siderable reinforcement  from  their  main  army  should 
be  sent;  and  Major  Gen.  Baron  de  Kalb  with  four- 


212 

teen  hundred  continental  troops  of  the  Delaware  and 
Maryland  lines  were  ordered  to  the  southward  ;  they 
marched  from  head-quarters  at  Morristown  in  New- 
Jersey  on  the  16th  April,  1780  ;  embarked  at  the 
head  of  Elk  in  May,  and  landed  soon  at  Petersburgh 
in  Virginia,  and  from  thence  proceeded  by  land 
through  the  country  towards  South  Carolina.  Vir- 
ginia made  great  exertions  to  expedite  the  move- 
ments of  this  little  army.  The  South  part  of  North 
Carolina  being  so  much  exhausted  of  provisions  by 
the  great  bodies  of  militia  armies  of  whigs  and  to- 
ries  that  had  been  moving  about,  that  it  was  al- 
most impossible,  when  Baron  de  Kalb  got  into  that 
part  of  the  country  in  July,  to  support  his  army  ;  for 
many  days  they  lived  upon  stewed  peaches ;  there 
was  scarcely  food  enough  left  to  support  the  unhap- 
py women  and  children  that  were  obliged  to  stay  at 
home. 

IN  a  letter  from  Baron  de  Kalb  to  Chevalier  De 
la  Luzerne,  minister  from  France  in  Philadelphia ;  he 
says  *  You  may  judge  of  the  virtues  of  our  small  ar- 
'  my,  from  the  following  fact :  we  for  several  days 
'  lived  on  nothing  but  peaches  ;  and  I  have  not  heard 
'  of  a  complaint :  there  has  been  no  desertion.' 

THE  State  of  North  Carolina  ordered  a  large  de- 
tachment of  their  militia  to  take  the  field  and  to  be 
relitved  every  three  months  :  this  army  was  intend- 
ed to  raise  the  siege  of  Charlestown,  but  too  late  for 


213 

that  purpose :  they  were,  however,  a  very  great  check 
to  the  British  and  stopped  their  rapid  progress  over 
North  and  South  Carolina.  Upon  Colonel  Tarleton's 
near  approach  with  his  detachment  to  Mulinburgh 
county,  Gen.  Rutherford  took  the  field,  and  in  three 
days  raised  fifteen  hundred  men,  which  obliged  Col. 
Tarleton  immediately  to  retreat,  and  the  militia  re- 
turned to  their  homes  :  soon  after,  Lord  Rawdon 
took  post  at  Waxsaws  :  General  Rutherford  again 
raised  a  body  of  militia  of  eight-hundred  men,  and 
obliged  his  lordship  to  retreat. 

THE  North  Carolinians  were   always  active  and 
ready  to  defend  their  country,    but  they  were   bad- 
ly provided  with  suitable  armor  for  defence  ;     they 
were  obliged  to  turn  their  implements  of  husbandry, 
into  those  of  war,  by  hammering  up  their  scythes 
and  sickles,  and    forming   them   into    swords  and 
spears  :  powder  and  lead  was  also  scarce  with  them. 
THE  war  was  now  carried  from  the  lower,  to  the 
upper  part  of  South  Carolina,  and  into  North  Caro- 
lina, and  the  friends  of  independence   were  obliged 
to  retreat  before  them  into  North  Carolina  :  among 
the  most  conspicuous  and  useful  of  these,  was  Colo- 
nel   Sumpter,    who  had  formerly  commanded  the 
fifth   South  Carolina  continental  regiment ;  a  brave 
and  active  officer,    and  well  acquainted  with  the  in- 
terior parts  of  North  and  South  Carolina  ;  the  exiles 
from  South   Carolina  joined    their  friends  in  North 

VOL»   II.  2    E 


214 

Carolina,  and  made  choice  of  Colonel  Sumpter  to 
command  them :  at  the  head  of  this  small  body  of 
republicans,  he  returned  into  South  Carolina,  almost 
without  arms  or  ammunition,  and  no  stores  to  sup- 
ply their  wants,  and  when  most  of  the  inhabitants 
had  given  up  the  idea  of  supporting  their  indepen- 
dence :  in  this  situation  did  he  oppose  himself  to 
the  victorious  British  army :  they  sometimes  began 
an  action  with  not  more  than  three  rounds  per  man, 
and  were  obliged  to  wait  to  be  supplied  with  more> 
by  the  fall  of  their  friends  or  enemies  in  battle  ;  when 
they  proved  victorious,  they  supplied  themselves 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  from  the  killed  and 
wounded. 

AT  this  sudden  irruption  of  Americans  into  South 
Carolina,  the  British  were  greatly  astonished,  as  all 
military  operations  on  the  part  of  America  had 
ceased  for  upwards  of  six  weeks,  and  they  had  re- 
presented, *  That  the  inhabitants  from  every  quarter, 
«  had  repaired  to  the  detachments  of  the  royal  ar- 

*  my,  and  to  the  garrison  of  Charlestown,  to  declare 

*  their  allegiance  to  the   king,  and  to  offer  their  ser- 

*  vices  in  arms,  to  support  his  government ;  and  in 
4  many  instances  they  had  brought  in  prisoners,  their 
'  former    oppressors  and  leaders  :     and  that  there 
«  were   very   few  men   in  South  Carolina  that  were 

*  not  either  their  prisoners,  or  in  arms  with  them.' 

LORD  Rawdon,   who  commanded  at  Camden,  was 


215 

exceedingly  irritated,  vexed  and  disappointed,  to 
find  the  Americans  were  again  embodying  and  mak- 
ing head  against  the  British  troops  in  South  Caroli- 
na, and  encouraging  the  British  troops  to  desert,  and 
conceal  themselves  amongst  the  inhabitants :  he 
wrote  the  following  letter. 

c  To  H.   HUGELY,  MAJOR  OF   BRITISH  MILITIA. 

*  NEAR  THEIR  HEAD-QUARTERS  AT  CAMDEN. 
<  SIR, 

*  So  many  deserters  from  this  army  have  passed 
'  with  impunity  through  the  districts  which   are  un- 

*  der  your  direction,  that  I  must  necessarily  suspect 
'  the  inhabitants  to  have  connived  at,  if  not  facilita- 

*  ted  their  escape.     If  attachment  to  their  sovereign 
'  will  not  move  the  country  people  to  check  a  crime 
'  so  detrimental  to  his   service,  it  must  be  my  care 
'  to  urge  them  to   their  duty  as  good  subjects,  by 
'  useing  invariable   severity  towards  every  one  who 
'  shall  show  so  criminal  a  neglect  of  the  public  in- 
'  terest.     I  am,  therefore  sir,  to  request  of  you  that 
'  you  signify  to  all  within  the  limits  of  your  com- 
'  mand  my  firm  determination   in  this  case :  if  any 
<  person  shall   meet  a  soldier  straggling  without  a 
'  written  pass,  beyond  the  picquets,  and  shall  not  do 
'  his  utmost  to  secure  him,  or  shall  not  spread  an  alarm 
'  for  that  purpose,  or  if  any  person  shall  give  shelter 
'  to  soldiers  straggling  as  above  mentioned,  or  shall 


216 

*  serve  them  as  a  guide,  or  shall  furnish  them  with 
4  passes  or  any  other  assistance  ;  the  person  so  of- 
4  fending,  may  assure  themselves  of  rigorous  pu- 
4  nishment,  either  by  whipping,  imprisonment  or  by 
'  being  sent  to  serve  his  majesty  in  the  West-Indies, 
4  according  as  I  shall  think  the  degree  of  criminality 
1  may  require.  I  have  ordered  that  every  soldier 
4  who  passes  the  picquets,  shall  submit  himself  to  be 
'  examined  by  any  of  the  militia  who  have  a  suspi- 
4  cion  of  him  :  if  a  soldier,  therefore,  attempts  to  es- 
'  cape,  when  ordered  by  a  militiaman  to  stop,  he  is 
4  immediately  to  be  fired  upon  as  a  deserter.. .single 

*  men  of  the  light  horse   need   not  be  examined,  as 
4  they  may  be  often  sent  alone  upon  expresses  :    nor 
4  is  any  party  of  infantry,  with  a  non-commissioned 
«  officer  at  the  head  of  it,  to  be  stopped.    I  will'give 

*  the  inhabitants  ten  guineas  for  the  head  of  any  descr- 
4  ter  belonging  to  the  volunteers  of  Ireland  ;   and  five 
1  guineas  only,    if  they  bring  him   in    alive  :    they 
1  likewise  will  be  rewarded,  though  not  to  that  amount, 
4  for  such  deserters  as  they  may  procure,  belonging 
4  to  any  other  regiment.     I  am  confident  that  you 

*  will  encourage  the  country  people  to  be  more  ac- 
1  live   in  this  respect. 

*  I  am,  sir, 

4  With  much  esteem,  &c. 

(Signed,)  «  RAWDON.' 


217 

LORD  Rawdon  on  the  report  of  the  American 
army  approaching,  ordered  all  the  inhabitants,  in, 
and  about  Camden,  to  take  up  arms  and  join  the 
British  troops,  and  all  those  who  refused  were  con- 
fined in  a  jail,  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
persons  were  imprisoned  ;  twenty  or  thirty  of  the 
most  respectable  citizens  were  put  in  irons,  in  close 
confinement. 

COLONEL  Sumpter's  little  party  soon  increased 
their  number  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-three,  with 
these  few  he  attacked  a  detachment  of  British  troops 
and  a  large  body  of  Tories,  on  the  twelfth  of  July, 
1780,  at  William's  plantation,  in  Ninety-six  district, 
commanded  by  Captain  Huck  ;  they  were  posted  in 
a  lane,  both  ends  of  which,  was  entered  by  the 
Americans  at  the  same  time.  Colonel  Ferguson 
of  the  British  militia,  Captain  Huck,  and  several 
others  were  killed.  Captain  Huck  did  every  thing 
he  could  to  distress  the  inhabitants,  by  insult  and 
injury ;  his  profanity  shocked  them  to  a  great  degree, 
he  had  a  particular  hatred  to  the  presbyterians,  he 
burnt  their  meetings  and  dwelling  houses,  and  des- 
troyed their  property,  wherever  he  could  find  it ; 
he  was  often  heard  to  say,  '  that  God  Almighty  was 
•*  turned  rebel,  but  that  if  there  were  twenty  Gods  on 
<  their  side,  they  should  all  be  conquered.' 

Ow  the  twentieth  of  June,  1780,  a  large  body  of 
the  Tories  collected  together  at  Rumsour's,  in  North 


218 

Carolina,  under  Colonel  Moore,  contrary  to  the  ad- 
vice of  Lord  Cornwallis,  who  had  recommended  to 
them  to  remain  quiet  till  he  had  advanced  into  their 
settlements.  General  Rutherford  marched  against  the 
insurgents,  but  was  so  short  of  lead,  that  he  could 
arm  only  three  hundred  men  ;  he  detached  Colonel 
Lock  with  these,  twenty-five  miles,  to  discover  the 
motions  of  the  enemy,  whilst  he  remained  behind, 
in  expectation  of  lead  from  the  mines  of  Virginia. 
Colonel  Lock,  though  greatly  inferior  to  the  enemy, 
was  under  the  necessity  of  attacking  them,  which 
was  done  with  great  spirit  and  resolution.  Captain 
Falls,  with  a  party  of  horse,  charged  the  enemy  and 
threw  them  into  great  confusion,  Colonel  Lock  had 
twenty-two  of  his  men  killed  and  wounded,  Captain 
Falls  and  five  oiher  officers  were  killed;  Colonel  Moore 
proposed  to  Colonel  Lock,  to  cease  from  hostilities 
for  an  hour,  which  was  agreed  to  ;  in  the  mean  time 
Colonel  Moore  went  off  with  his  party.  Soon  after 
this  party  of  Tories  were  dispersed,  General  Ruther- 
ford received  information  that  Colonel  Bryan  of  Rowan 
county,  was  at  the  head  of  another  party,  who  were 
inarching  to  join  the  British  ;  he  went  in  pursuit  of 
them,  but  they  effected  their  purpose  by  marching 
down  the  east  side  of  the  Yadkin-river,  and  joined 
them  at  Camden.  About  this  time,  the  extremities 
of  North  and  South  Carolina  adjoining  each  other, 
were  in  great  commotions  ;  large  armed  parties  of 


219 

Whigs  and  Tories  were  continually  moving  about  and 
frequently  falling  in  with  each  other  and  fighting  se- 
vere battles,  so  that  the  two  countries  were  in  one 
general  confusion;  and  the   animosities  between  the 
two  parties  were  carried  to  great  lengths;  to  enume- 
rate the  cruelties  which  were  exercised  upon  each 
other  would   fill  a  volume  of  themselves.     The  Bri- 
tish detachments  that  were  marching  through  these 
two   countries  were  not  backward  in  their  severities 
against  the   unhappy  citizens,  many  of  whom  they 
hung  up  or  otherwise  cruelly  treated  or  put  to  death 
in  a  wanton  manner ;  in  short  the  war  was  carried 
on    with    great   barbarity :    this    treatment   of    the 
Americans  by  the  British  and  their  adherents,  soon 
increased   Gen.  Sumpter's  number  to  six-hundred  : 
with  these  on  the   30th  of  July,  he  made  a  spirited 
attack  on  a  British  post  at   Rocky-mount,  but  failed 
of  success :  however,  in  eight  days  after  he  made  a 
successful  attack  on  the  post  at  Hanging-rock,  which 
was  defended  by  the  Prince  of  Wales'  regiment,  and 
a  large  body  of  Tories  under  Col.  Bryan  :  in  this  at- 
tack the  Prince  of  Wales'  regiment  suffered  exceed- 
ingly, and  the  Tories  were  intirely  routed  and  dispers- 
ed :  when  Gen.  Sumpter  began  this  attack,  he  had 
not  more  than  ten  rounds  of  ball  to  a  man;  but  be- 
fore the  action  was  over,  he  was  amply  supplied  with 
arms  and  ammunition  from  the  British  and  Tories 
that  fell  in  the  beginning. 


220 

IT  was  now  well  known  that  an  American  army 
was  marching  from  the  northward  for  the  relief  of 
the  southern  states  ;  this  intelligence  gave  the  Ameri- 
cans great  spirits  ;  they  began  to  rear  their  heads 
and  look  forward  to  a  recovery  of  their  country : 
they  first  embodied  in  small  parties,  and  chose  their 
officers ;  with  these  they  took  the  field,  and  often  at- 
tacked the  detachments  of  the  British  army  that 
were  moving  about,  and  they  were  a  very  great 
check  to  the  Tories,  who  were  collecting  to  join  the 
British.  Col.  Williams  of  Ninety-six  district,  a  brave 
and  active  officer,  and  warm  in  the  American  cause, 
raised  a  large  body  of  men,  and  frequently  attacked 
the  British  parties.  On.  the  18th  of  August,  1780, 
he  attacked  a  large  party  of  British  and  Tories  at 
Musgrove's- mills  on  Enoree  river,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Innis  of  the  South  Carolina  royalists, 
whom  he  defeated  ;  and  wounded  Col.  Innis. 

Is  the  summer  of  1780,  a  report  prevailed  which 
was  much  talked  of  among  the  officers,  prisoners  at 
Haddrell's-point,  that  Congress  had  given  up  the  idea 
of  contending  any  longer  for  the  southern  states,  and 
that  a  peace  was  to  be  made  with  Great  Britain,  and 
that  the  two  southern  states  were  to  be  ceded  to  her : 
this  gave  some  uneasiness  for  a  time,  until  we  got 
information  of  Congress  haying  entered  into  the 
ing  resolve. 


221 

«  IN  CONGRESS,  June  25th,  1780. 

<  WHEREAS  it  has  been  reported,    in  order  to  se« 

1  duce  the   states  of  North  and  South  Carolina  and 

*  Georgia,   from   their    allegiance    to  these   United 

*  States,  that  a  treaty  of  peace,  between  America  and 

*  Great  Britain  was  about  to  take  place,    in  which 

*  those  two  states   would   be  ceded  to  Great  Britain. 

*  Resolved  unanimously,   that  the  said  report  is  in- 

*  sidious,   and  utterly  void  of  foundation,    that  this 
'  confederacy  is  most  sacredly  pledged  to   support 

*  the  liberty  and  independence  of  every  one  of  its 
(  members,  and  in  a  firm  reliance  on  the  divine  bles- 
'  sing,  will  unremittingly  persevere  in  their  exertions 
«  for  the  establishment  of  the  same,  and  for  the  re- 
4  covery  and  preservation  of  any  and  every  part  of 
«  these  United  States  that  has  been  or  may  hereafter 
'  be  invaded  or  possessed  by  the  common  enemy." 

•*  Extracts  from  the  minutes. 

*  CHARLES  THOMSON,  Sec'ry.' 

ON  the  twenty-seventh  of  July,  1780,  .General 
Gates  arrived  from  the  northward,  with  orders  from 
Congress,  to  take  the  command  of  the  continental 
troops  in  North  Carolina,  hitherto  commanded  by 
Major  General  Baron  De  Kalb.  General  Gates  be- 
ing a  soldier  of  great  reputation,  and  having  had  the 
good  fortune  to  capture  General  Burgoyne  and  his 

army,  much  was  expected  from  his  military  abilities; 
VOL.  ii  2  F 


222 

it  was  not  doubted  that  he  would  soon  oblige  the 
British  to  break  up  all  their  posts  and  retire  into 
Charlestown,  and  that  we  should  have  possession  of 
the  whole  country  again.  On  the  fourth  of  August, 
General  Gates  issued  a  proclamation  which  was  very 
much  approved  of  by  the  inhabitants.  [See  appendix, 
note  23.] 

GENERAL  Marion,  who  was  lieutenant  colonel 
commandant  of  the  second  South  Carolina  continental 
regiment,  was  in  Charlestown  at  the  beginning  of  the 
siege  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by  some  accident  sprained 
his  ancle,  which  rendered  him  unfit  for  service  ;  he 
therefore  came  under  that  general  order  issued  by 
General  Lincoln,  '  That  all  supernumerary  officers, 

*  and  all  officers  who  were  unfit  for  duty,  must  quit 

*  the  garrison  and  retire  into  the   country.'     Fortu- 
nately for  Carolina  he  went  out,  and  when  he  went, 
was  so  lame  that  he  was  obliged  to  sculk  about  from 
house  to  house  among  his  friends,  and  sometimes 
hide  in  the  bushes  until  he   grew  better  ;  he  then 
crept  out  by  degrees,    and  began  to  collect  a  few 
friends  ;  and  when  he  got  ten  or  twelve  together  he 
ventured  out,  and  upon  hearing  of  General  Gates' 
army,  he  moved  on  and  joined  them:  after  the  de- 
feat of  General   Gates,  he   was  obliged  to  quit  the 
state,  and  go  into  North  Carolina  for  a  few   days  ; 
when   he   returned,  he   had  about  seventy  volunteer 
militia  with  him,  but  most  of  them  quite  unarmed  ; 


223 

he  took  the  saws  from  the  mills,  and  set  the  smiths 
to  work,  to  turn  them  into  horsemen's  swords  ;  he 
frequently  engaged  when  he  had  only  three  or  four 
rounds  to  a  man ;  his  little  party  would  sometimes 
be  reduced  to  five  and  twenty  men. ..as  is  common 
with  the  militia,  they  grow  tired,  and  have  a  pretence 
to  go  home,  or  sometimes  without  any  pretence  at 
all :  he  was  very  troublesome  to  Major  Wemys,  who 
had  taken  post  on  Peedee  with  a  detachment  of  Bri- 
tish troops,  and  had  burned  a  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants houses  on  Peedee,  Black-river  and  Lynch's- 

y 

creek,  supposing  the  owners  had  joined  General 
Marion.  The  British  by  their  impolitic  conduct,  re- 
cruited General  Marion's  little  party  very  fast,  who 
always  lay  in  the  woods,  in  the  most  unfrequented 
places,  with  nothing  but  their  blanket  to  cover  them- 
selves ;  he  had  his  scouts  out  constantly,  and  when 
they  brought  him  intelligence  (which  they  frequently 
did)  of  any  small  party  of  the  enemy,  or  any  escorts 
with  stores,  he  sallied  out,  and  was  sure  to  have 
them  :  Lord  Cornwallis  was  heard  to  say,  '  That  hr 
would  give  a  good  deal  to  have  him  taken.'  And 
always  praised  him,  as  a  good  partisan  officer.* 


*  General  Marion  and  myself,  entered  the  field  of  Mars  to- 
gether, in  an  expedition  against  the  Cherokee  Indians,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  James  Giant,  in  1761  ;  when  I  had 
the  honor  to  command  a  light  infantry  company,  in  a  provin- 
cial regiment ;  he  was  my  first  lieutenant.^he  was  an  active, 
brave  and  hardy  soldier,  and  an  excellent  partisan  officer. 


224 

EARLY  in  August,  General  Marion  was  detached 
by  General  Gates  with  fifteen  or  twenty  men,  down 
the  country  towards  Georgetown,  to  inform  the 
well  affected  inhabitants  of  his  arrival  in  South  Caro- 
lina, with  a  respectable  and  well  appointed  army, 
and  to  shew  them  his  proclamation,  calling  upon 
them  to  join  the  American  army:  he  was  ordered 
to  destroy  all  the  boats,  flats  and  crafts  of  every 
kind  which  he  could  find,  quite  down  to  the  sea,  to 
prevent  the  enemy's  army  at  Camden,  from  escap- 
ing to  Charlestown  :  on  General  Marion's  arrival 
near  Georgetown,  he  was  joined  by  Colonel  Peter 
Horry  and  Captain  Logan  of  the  continental  line, 
and  some  militia  officers  :  the  morning  after  Ge- 
neral Gates'  defc'at,  which  General  Marion  knew 
nothing  of  for  several  days,  nor  until  he  had  surpris- 
ed at  Sumpter's  old  field,  near  Nelson's-ferry,  a 
captain  and  forty  British  soldiers,  on  their  way  to 
Chiulestown,  escorting  thirty  American  soldiers, 
prisoners  (part  of  General  Gates'  army)  to  Charles- 
Jown  :  at  this  time  Marion  had  but  thirty  militia  with 
him,  with  these  he  released  the  prisoners,  and  re- 
treated to  Briton's-neck,  on  Peedee-river,  to  be  farther 
from  the  enemy,  and^  in  hopes  of  being  joined  by 
more  of  the  militia,  and  to  get  the  released  prisoners 
armed,  but  they  absolutely  refused  to  stay  any  long- 
er with  him  :  so  gloomy  were  American  affairs 
at  this  time  that  very  few  would  join  him  ;  and  the 


225 

Tories  were  now  gathering  from  all  quarters  ;  the 
nearest  party  of  them  were  on  little  Peedee,  under 
Captain  Barfield ;  these  were  surprised  in  their 
camp,  some  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners, 
with  little  or  no  loss  to  the  Americans,  and  Marion 
again  returned  to  Briton's-neck  :  the  enemy  begin- 
ning to  perceive  that  he  would  be  very  troublesome 
to  them,  determined  upon  a  plan  to  drive  him  off: 
two  parties  were  sent  after  him  from  Santee  and 
Georgetown,  and  Tarleton  it  was  said,  was  on  his 
way  from  Camden,  on  the  same  errand  :  on  receiving 
information  that  the  two  first  parties  were  very  near, 
Marion  with  about  fifty  men,  retreated  to  White- 
marsh,  in  North  Carolina  ;  the  enemy  did  not  pur- 
sue far,  which  gave  Marion  a  few  days  to  reflect  and 
project  further  operations  ;  he  was  informed  that  a 
number  of  Tories  had  assembled  at  Black-mingo,  he 
returned  into  South  Carolina,  and  attacked  them  at 
night,  and  both  parties  suffered  considerably,  Cap- 
tain Logan  and  others  were  killed  ;  the  enemy  were 
routed,  and  many  escaped  and  got  into  Georgetown 
much  terrified  :  soon  after  this,  another  party  of  To- 
nes was  heard  of,  under  Colonel  Tines  ;  these  were 
completely  surprised  in  their  camp ;  many  were 
killed  and  wounded  ;  their  colonel  and  two  other 
officers  taken  prisoners  ;  when  they  were  fired  upon, 
they  could  not  but  think  it  was  their  own  men  in  di- 
version ;  several  were  killed  with  cards  in  their  hands. 


226 

THE  enemy  now  began  to  see  Marion's  import- 
ance, and  that  now  was  the  time  to  force  him  out  of 
the  country  :  General  Gates  defeated  and  gone,  and 
Sumpter  at  so  great  a  distance,  either  at  Ninety-six 
or  Mecklenburgh,  North  Carolina,  that  he  could 
receive  no  assistance,  a  plan  was  concerted  in  Charles- 
town,  which  seemed  to  insure  success ;  it  was  made 
no  secret  of,  Col.  Watson  was  sent  from  Charles- 
town  with  a  detachment,  and  on  his  \vay  to  Marion 
was  joined  by  another,  under  Colonel  Small :  they 
came  up  with  the  General  a  little  below  Wibo-swamp , 
on  Santee-river,  where  a  skirmish  ensued  ;  a  second 
took  place  at  the  lower  bridge,  on  Black-river,  and 
a  third  at  Sampit  bridge.  Colonel  Watson  got  into 
Georgetown  very  much  harrasscd  and  fatigued  : 
Colonel  Small  after  the  first  skirmish,  left  Colonel 
Watson  near  Wibo,  and  marched  with  his  detach- 
ment to  Camden.  Colonel  Peter  Horry  had  a  de- 
tachment of  eighty  picked  men,  all  well  mounted, 
half  riflemen,  to  hang  on  the  enemy  and  harrass  them 
all  in  his  power ;  he  frequently  ambuscaded  them, 
made  many  feints  and  false  charges  on  the  line, 
fired  on  their  advance  guards,  centinels  and  videts, 
and  at  night  gave  them  constant  alarms.  Colonel 
Watson  was  so  perplexed  and  vexed,  that  he  com- 


227 

plained,  and  said  it  was  unprecedented  in  war...*  that 
the  Americans  dared  not  come  to  battle. 

GENERAL  Marion  retired  to  Lynch  Vcreek,  and 
was  soon  informed  that  Colonel  Watson  and  a 
party  of  Tories  were  advancing  fast  upon  him,  the 
first  in  his  rear,  the  second  on  his  right,  and  that 
Colonel  Doyle  from  Camden  was  in  his  front,  three 
detachments  from  different  directions,  and  all  point 
ed  towards  Marion,  with  an  intention  to  drive  him. 
out  of  the  country.  They  knew  he  could  get  no 
support  or  assistance,  and  that  he  had  but  very  few 
men  with  him :  General  Marion  made  known  his 
situation  to  Colonel  Peter  Horry,  and  said  if  the 
enemy  did  drive  him  out  of  the  country,  he  was  de- 
termined to  retire  over  the  mountains,  with  as  many 
as  would  follow  him,  and  from  time  to  time  would 
gather  a  party  and  sally  down  the  country,  and  do 
them  as  much  injury  as  he  could,  until  he  was  kill- 
ed or  they  had  left  the  country,  he  would  not  leave 
off  warring  against  tliem :  he  said  he  was  afraid 
that  if  he  should  be  hard  pushed,  that  many  of  his 
men  would  not  leave  their  families  and  fly  with  him. 
General  Marion  desired  Colonel  Peter  Horry  to  call 
the  field-officers  together  privately,  and  lay  the  cir- 
cumstances of  their  situation,  fully  before  them  ;  to 


*  It  was  a  little  extraordinary,  that  Colonel  Watson,  who 
was  said  to  be  a  good  partisan  officer,  should  complain  of  this 
mode  of  harra$sing  a  patty. 


223 

acquaint  them  of  his  determination,  and  to  have 
their's,  in  order  that  he  might  know  how  far  he 
could  rely  on  them  :  he  recommended  that  the  offi- 
cers should  unite  with  him  as  a  band  of  brother  offi- 
cers ;  and  that  each  should  most  solemnly  pledge  to 
the  other,  his  sacred  word  and  honor,  to  be  faithful, 
and  never  submit  to  the  enemy  but  with  their  lives. 

THE  field-officers  then  in  camp,  were  Colonel  Pe- 
ter Ilorry,  Hugh  Ilorry,  James  Postell  and  Irvin: 
Majors,  Jumes  Baxter  and  Swinton  ;  these  met  and  re- 
solved according  to  the  wishes  of  the  general,  and  with- 
out hesitation,  said  they  were  bound  in  honor  to  adhere 
to  his  fortune,  whether  good  or  bad ;  and  they  all  declar- 
ed they  would  be  faithful  to  each  other,  and  would 
carry  on  the  war  as  the  general  should  direct:  these 
determinations  being  made  at  a  time  when  there  was 
the  greatest  prospect  of  distress,  was  truly  honorable 
to  themselves  and  to  their  couHtry.  On  General  Ma- 
rion's being  acquainted  with  their  resolutions,  he  said 
*  he  was  satisfied,  and  that  one  of  the  enemy's  de- 
tachments should  feel  his  force :'  and  in  about  an  hour 

> 

he  decamped,  crossed  Lynch's  creek,  and  marched 
up  Peedee  to  meet  Col.  Doyle's  detachment;  pre- 
ferring to  attack  this  party  because  if  he  should  be 
defeated  he  had  the  country  open  for  a  retreat :  the 
next  morning  arriving  at  a  house  on  the  road,  he  was 
informed  that  Colonel  Doyle  had  encamped  there 
that  night,  and  that  he  had  received  an  express  from 


229 

Camden,  informing  him  that  General  Greene  was 
advancing  fast  towards  that  post,  that  he  marched 
off  before  day  in  great  haste  for  Camden,  so  fast  that 
it  was  impossible  for  Marion  to  overtake  him  ;  he 
pursued  for  several  hours,  but  in  vain  ;  he  then  wheel- 
ed about  to  look  for  Colonel  Watson,  said  to  be 
on  little  Peedee,  but  he  had  also  received  an  express 
the  same  night  as  Colonel  Doyle  had,  with  the  same 
information;  and  had  immediately  destroyed  all  his 
stores,  waggons,  carts,  and  every  species  of  heavy 
baggage,  and  decamped  early  the  next  morning,  and 

crossed  little  Peedee  :  Marion  judging  they  would 
cross  over  to  Georgetown  and  Santee,  pushed  on  for 
Manigault's-ferry,  to  intercept  them  on  their  way 
to  Camden :  Watson  crossed  as  Marion  got  to 
Manigault's-ferry,  on  the  south  side  ;  he  was  inform- 
ed that  Watson  had  just  crossed  over  to  the  north 
side,  a  few  miles  above,  and  pushing  fast  for  Cam- 
den, he  got  safe  in,  without  any  further  loss.  The 
scene  was  now  reversed  ;  instead  of  Watson  and 
Doyle  pushing  Marion  out  of  the  country,  he  faces 
about  and  pursues  them  towards  Camden  ;  their 
marches  were  too  rapid  for  them  to  be  overtaken. 

GENERAL  Marion  in  his  pursuit  of  Watson,  was 
joined  by  Captain  Conyers,  with  a  small  party  of 
dragoons,  who  informed  him  that  he  was  sent  by 
Colonel  Lee,  to  let  him  know  that  he  was  on  his 
way  to  join  him,  and  that  General  Greene  was  ac- 

VOL.   II.  2   G 


230 

tually  advancing  towards  Camden  :  Marion  retired 
to  Snow's-Island,  -where  he  was  joined  by  Colonel 
Lee  with  his  legion,  who  proposed  to  the  general, 
a  plan  to  surprise  the  garrison  at  Georgetown,  by 
night;  Marion  agreed  to  it,  and  allowed  the  colonel 
wholly  to  project  and  carry  into  execution. 

JANUARY  25th,  1781,  General  Marion  with  his 
brigade  of  militia,  retired  to  Snow's-Island,  and 
was  there  joined  by  Colonel  Lee  with  his  legion. 
Colonel  Lee  formed  a  plan  to  surprise  Georgetown, 
which  was  garrisoned  with  about  three  hundred  re- 
gular troops,  and  some  militia,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Campbell :  Captain  Carnes  and  Captain 
Rudolph,  with  about  ninety  (mostly  of  Lee's  infan- 
try) were  sent  down  from  Snow's-Island,  about  forty 
miles  from  Georgetown,  in  a  large  boat,  to  drop 
down  the  river,  towards  the  town,  while  General 
Marion  and  Colonel  Lee  were  to  have  come  down 
with  the  main  body  by  land  :  just  before  day-break, 
on  the  second  day,  Captain  Carnes  with  his  party, 
landed  at  Mitchell's-point,  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  to  the  east  of  the  town  ;  they  landed  and  march- 
ed on  a  bank  through  the  rice  field,  and  was  in  the 
town  a  little  before  day-light  ;  the  British  knew 
nothing  of  them,  until  they  were  alarmed  by  a  few 
popping  shots,  and  then,  very  great  confusion  en- 
sued ;  the  officers  running  about  for  the  men,  and 
the  men  for  the  officers  ;  in  this  hurry  and  confu- 


231 

sion,  the  guides  got  so  alarmed  and  frightened,  that 
they  lost  their  way  to  the  fort,  where  the  main  body 
of  the  British  were  quartered,  or  else  the  surprise 
would  have  been  complete.  A  party  went  to  Colo- 
nel Campbell's  quarters,  took  him  out  of  bed,  and 
carried  him  of,  without  any  other  clothes  than  his 
shirt,  to  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  on  the  back  of  the 
town,  through  bushes  and  briers  ;  he  begged  and 
in  treated  so  much  that  they  would  allow  him  to  go 
back  and  be  paroled  to  Charlestown  ;  after  a  little 
time,  they  had  compassion  upon  him,  and  suffered 
him  to  go  back  upon  parole  :  by  this  time  the  ene- 
my began  to  embody,  and  the  firing  was  heard  from 
different  parts  of  the  town,  and  General  Marion  and 
Colonel  Lee  not  entering  the  town  at  the  same  time, 
Captains  Games  and  Rudolph  thought  it  adviseable 
to  retreat :  had  our  guides  not  missed  the  ir  way  to 
the  fort,  it  is  more  than  probable  this  little  detach- 
ment would  have  taken  the  whole  garrison  prisoners  ; 
some  few  men  were  killed  on  both  sides.  The  ca- 
valry under  General  Marion  and  Colonel  Lee,  did 
not  arrive,  and  as  they  met  with  a  breast-work  not 
easily  to  be  mounted,  they  proceeded  no  further,  par- 
ticularly, as  the  infantry  had  already  retreated. 

GENERAL  Gates  takes  the  command  of  the  conti- 
nental troops,  and  is  joined  by  the  North  Carolina 
militia,  at  the  cross  roads,  forty-five  miles  from  Cam- 
den,  on  the  tenth  of  August,  1780,  and  was  joined 


255 

1VV4V 

by  General  Stevens  on  the  fifteenth,  with  a  brigade 
of  Virginia  militia :  the  American  army  now  amount- 
ed  to  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-three, 
and  not  more  than  nine  hundred  continental  infan- 
try and  seventy  cavalry  ;  with  this  army  General 
Gates  moved  towards  Camden,  being  possessed  with 
a  belief  that  the  British  intended,  and  were  prepar- 
ing to  retreat ;  he  therefore  was  determined  to  be 
near  at  hand,  to  prevent  them,  or  to  be  close  in  their 
rear,  to  harrass  them  as  much  as  possible. 

LORD  Rawdon  who  commanded  at  Camden,  sent 
an  express  to  Lord  Cornwallis  in  Charlestown,  to  in- 
form him  of  the  American  army  approaching : 
Lord  Cornwallis  immediately  sets  out,  and  arrives 
at  Camden  on  the  thirteenth  of  August,  and  takes 
the  command  of  the  army,  and  at  the  same  time, 
four  companies  of  light  troops  arrived  form  Ninety- 
six  ;  they  took  three  American  soldiers,  who  inform- 
ed that  General  Gates  had  given  orders  to  move  from 
Rugley's,  to  attack  next  morning  :  at  ten  o'clock, 
P.  M.  the  British  moved  from  their  ground,  and  a 
little  after  two  o'clock,  the  advance  of  the  British 
charged  the  advance  of  the  Americans,  and  a  firing 
commenced  ;  after  some  time  they  both  retreated  to 
their  main  bodies. 

LORD  Cornwallis'  army  consisted  of  seventeen  hun- 
dred infantry  and  three  hundred  cavalry  ;  on  the 
right  of  the  fifteenth  he  marched  out  to  attack  the 


2S3 

American  army  ;  at  the  same  time  General  Gates  put 
his  army  in  motion,  to  take  a  position  on  Sander's- 
creek. 

THE  American  army  was  drawn  up  on  the  sixteenth 
of  August,  in  the  following  order  :  the  second  Mary- 
land brigade,  commanded  by  Brigadier  General 
Gist,  on  the  right  of  the  line,  flanked  by  a  morass  ; 
the  Virginia  militia  commanded  by  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral Stevens,  on  the  left,  flanked  by  the  North  Caro- 
lina militia,  light  infantry,  and  a  morass  ;  and  the 
North  Carolina  militia,  commanded  by  Major  Gene- 
ral Caswell,  in  the  centre  :  the  artillery  was  posted 
in  the  intervals  of  the  brigades  ;  Major  General  Ba- 
ron de  Kalb  commanded  on  the  right  of  the  line  ; 
Brigadier  General  Smallwood  was  posted  as  a  corps- 
de-reserve,  two  or  three  hundred  yards  in  the  rear 
of  the  whole  :  General  Sumpter  was  posted  with  a 
strong  body  (one  hundred  continentals,  seven  hun- 
dred militia  and  two  field-pieces)  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  Wateree-river,  to  prevent  their  retreat 
that  way  :  in  the  morning  a  general  engagement 
took  place  :  the  British  appeared  at  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  distant,  all  drawn  up  in  front  of  the 
North  Carolina  troops  ;  the  artillery  was  ordered  to 
fire,  and  General  Stevens  to  attack  the  column 
which  was  displayed  on  the  right ;  he  marched  up 
with  great  bravery,  and  advanced  with  his  brigade 
in  good  order,  within  fifty  paces  of  the  enemy. 


-34 

who  were  also  advancing)  and  called  out  to  his 
men, '  My  brave  fellows,  you  have  bayonets  as  well 
as  they  ;  we'll  charge  them.'  At  that  moment  the 
British  infantry  charged  bayonet  with  a  shout :  the 
Virginians  threw  down  their  arms,  and  run  off  as 
fast  as  possible  ;  the  North  Carolina  militia  followed 
their  example,  except  a  few  of  General  Gregory's 
brigade,  who  halted  a  little  longer  ;  a  part  of  Colonel 
Dixon's  brigade  fired  a  few  rounds  ;  but  the  great- 
est part  of  the  militia  run  off,  without  firing  a  sin- 
gle shot :  this  dastardly  behavior  of  the  militia, 
left  the  continentals  to  be  attacked  by  the  whole 
British  infantry  and  cavalry :  they  fought  bravely  ; 
never  did  men  behave  better  than  the  continen- 
tals ;  and  a  great  fire  of  musketry  was  kept  up  on 
both  sides,  with  great  obstinacy  ;  at  length,  Lord 
Coruwallis  ordered  his  cavalry  to  charge,  which 
soon  put  an  end  to  the  contest :  General  Gates  en- 
deavored to  rally  some  of  the  militia,  to  cover  the 
retreat  of  the  continentals,  but  in  vain.  The  ca- 
valry pursued  the  fugitive  militia,  upwards  of  twen- 
ty-five miles,  and  made  a  dreadful  slaughter 
among  them  ;  the  road  on  which  they  fled,  was 
strewed  with  arms,  baggage,  the  sick,  wounded 
and  dead  ;  the  whole  of  the  baggage  which  was 
ordered  on  the  day  before,  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands,  and  eight  field-pieces. 
GENERAL  Sumptcr  who  was  on  the  south  side  of  the 


135 

Wateree  until  the  sixteenth,  and  had  been  fortunate 
enough  to  take  a  small  fort  and  a  strong  detachment 
going  up  with  stores  for  the  British  troops  at  Cam- 
den  when  he  heard  of  General  Gates'  defeat,  he 
was  retreating  with  his  prisoners  and  captured  stores 
up  the  river.  Lord  Cornwallis  detached  Colonel 
Tarleton  with  his  legion  and  a  body  of  infantry  after 
him ;  he  was  overtaken  on  the  eighteenth,  on  Fishing- 
creek  ;  the  British  horse  was  in  their  camp  before 
they  knew,  or  had  heard  any  thing  of  their  being 
near  them ;  it  was  a  complete  surprise,  the  greatest 
part  of  his  troops  fled  to  the  river,  some  were  killed 
and  wounded,  and  others  taken  ;  the  whole  of  his  party 
were  dispersed,  and  the  British  prisoners,  about  three 
hundred,  were  retaken,  and  all  the  stores  conducted 
to  Camden  :  Colonel  Sumpter  lost  all  his  artillery. 

THIS  victory  over  General  Gates,  and  the  surprise 
of  General  Sumpter,  occasioned  great  rejoicings 
and  congratulations  in  Charlestown:  [See  appendix, 
note  24.]  the  troops  were  turned  out  and  fired  a  fuc 
dejoye,  whilst  the  poor  prisoners  were  quite  dispirit- 
ed at  the  total  defeat  of  their  army  ;  they  lost  all 
hopes  of  ever  recovering  their  country  again  :  most 
of  the  officers  who  were  taken  at  Camden  and  Fish" 
ing-creek,  were  sent  to  Haddrell's-point,  upon  pa- 
role with  the  officers  taken  in  Charlestown,  which 
gave  us  an  opportunity  of  knowing  many  particulars 
relative  to  these  two  unfortunate  affairs. 


235 

THE  situation  of  America  in  the  southern  depart- 
ment was  truly  deplorable,  their  army  dispersed  and 
taken.  Lord  Cornwalls,  when  he  joined  his  army 
at  Camden,  found  himself  in  a  critical  situation, 
and  very  difficult  to  retreat  to  Charlestown  ;  he  had 
been  on  the  east  side  of  Wateree- river,  with  but  very- 
few  boats  to  cross  his  troops,  and  General  Sumpter 
on  the  opposite  side  with  six  or  seven  hundred  men 
to  oppose  his  passage,  and  General  Gates  with  three 
thousand  six  hundred  men,  only  eight  miles  distant : 
Lord  Cornwall!*  knowing  the  number  of  General 
Gates'  army,  and  that  they  were  mostly  composed  of 
militia,  determined  to  risk  a  battle,  and  he,  unfortu- 
nately for  our  cause,  gained  a  complete  victory. 

GENERAL  Marion  always  gave  strict  orders  to  his 
men,  that  there  should  be  no  waste  of  the  inhabitants 
property,  and  no  plundering :  he  was  so  conscious 
of  his  not  having  injured  any  one,  that  when  a  bill 
was  brought  before  the  legislature  after  the  war,  to 
indemnify  the  officers  and  to  prevent  vexatious  suits 
against  them,  his  name  was  inserted  in  the  bill ;  upon 
which  (being  a  member  of  the  house)  rose  from  his 
seat,  and  moved  '  that  his  name  should  be  struck  out ; 
'  that  if  he  had  injured  any  person  he  was  willing  to 
4  make  them  compensation.' 

ABOUT  this  time  General  Sumpttr's  and  Marion's 


237 

parties,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  New  Acquisition,* 
were  almost  the  only  American  force  to  oppose  the 
British  troops  in  South  Carolina  :  the  inhabitants  of 
the  New  Acquisition  had  never  been  made  prisoners, 
neither  did  they  take  protection  ;  it  was  from  them 
that  General  Sumpter  recruited  many  of  his  men  ; 
and  after  his  defeat  on  the  10th  of  August,  they  went 
back  to  their  settlements,  and  kept  in  small  parties, 
for  their  own  security:  some  of  them  joined  Major 
Davie,  who  commanded  fifty  or  sixty  volunteers 
equiped  as  dragoons. 

SOON  after  General  Gates'  defeat,  the  hot  weather 
and  the  unhealthy  season  came  on,  which  put  an  end 
to  any  further  military  operations  by  the  British;  nay, 
they  had  no  force  to  oppose  them;  the  American 
army  was  quite  broke  up  and  dispersed  ;  they  there- 
fore had  nothing  to  fear.  Colonel  Ferguson,  an. 
experienced,  brave,  active  partisan  officer,  made  an 
excursion  near  the  mountains,  with  a  few  regular 
troops,  in  hopes  to  have  recruited  a  large  number 
of  men  for  Lord  Cornwallis'  army,  and  to  have 


*  The  New  Acquisition  was  a  tract  of  country  taken  from 
North  Carolina  in  1772  ;  the  line  between  the  two  states  had 
been  long  disputed,  till  by  sn  order  of  the  king  and  council,  it 
was  run,  beginning  at  the  corner  tree,  on  the  Salisbury  road, 
and  which  took  fourteen  miles  of  the  south  part  of  North  Ca- 
rolina into  South  Carolina,  and  run  parallel  with  the  old  line 
sixty-five  miles. 

VOL,    II.  2   H 


23S 

trained  and  fitted  them  for  the  field  ;  with  these  he 
was  to  have  joined  the  main  army,  and  at  a  proper 
season,  to  assist  in  reducing  North  Carolina.  They 
continued  some  time  near  the  western  mountain,  in 
hopes  of  intercepting  Colonel  Clark,  on  his  return 
from  Georgia. 

COLONEL  Clark,  in  September,  1780,  raised  a 
tody  of  riflemen,  and  marched  through  the  upper 
part  of  South  Carolina,  on  his  way  to  Georgia.  Th6 
inhabitants  of  Ninety-six  endeavored  to  dissuade  him 
from  his  design  of  attacking  the  British  post  at 
Augusta  ;  he  persisted  however,  and  made  an  attempt 
In  which  he  failed,  and  was  obliged  to  make  a  pre- 
cipitate retreat,  and  leave  the  country  altogether. 
This  ill-timed  attempt  was  of  very  great  injury  to 
the  inhabitants  about  Augusta :  Colonel  Brown,  who 
commanded  there,  treated  the  people  with  the  great- 
est severity.  Many  of  those  who  had  joined  Colonel 
Clark,  and  were  supposed  to  have  favored  his  design, 
were  obliged  to  resume  their  arms  for  their  own  se- 
curity, and  join  the  Americans. 

THE  British  now  began  to  exercise  their  cruelties. 
In  a  few  days  after  General  Gates'  defeat,  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  issued  the  following  inhuman  order,  by  which 
he  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war  upon  the  poor  inhabitants, 
and  Tarleton,  with  his  blood-hdunds,  excelled  in  bru- 
tality. Unfortunate  men,  who  were  found  peaceably 
and  quietly  at  their  homes,  were  cut  to  pieces:  others 


229 

taken  out  of  the  gaols  and  hung  up  without  being 
questioned,  or  even  having  a  hearing,  and  every  spe- 
cies of  cruelty  was  exercised  throughout  the  country. 

EXTRACT  OP £  LETTER  FROM  GOVERNOR  RUTLEDGK, 
TO  THE  DELEGATES  IN  CONGRESS  FROM  SOUTH 
CAROLINA,  DATED  THE  8th  OF  DECEMBER,  1780. 

«  IT  is  really  melancholy  to  see  the  desolate  con- 
4  dition  of  Mr.  Hill's  plantation  in  the  New  Acquisi- 

*  tion ;  all  his  fine  iron-works,  mills,  dwelling-houses, 

*  and  buildings  of  every  kind,  even  his  negro-houses, 

*  reduced  to  ashes;  and  his  wife  and  children  in  a 
4  little  log  hut.     I  was  shocked  to  see  the  ragged, 

*  shabby  condition  of  our  brave  and  virtuous  men, 

*  who  would  not  remain  in  the  power  of  the  enemy, 

*  but  have  taken  to  arms.     This,  however,  is  but  a 

*  faint  description  of  the  sufferings  of  our  country ; 
4  for  it  is  beyond  a  dpubt,  the  enemy  have  hanged 
4  many  of  our  people,  who  from  fear,  and  the  im- 
4  practicability  of  removing,  had  given  paroles,  and 
4  from  attachment  to  our  side,  joined  it.    Nay,  Tarle^ 

*  ton  has  since  the  action  at  Black-stocks,  hung  one 
4  Johnson,  a  magistrate  of  respectable   character : 
4  they  have  also  burnt  a  prodigious  number  of  houses, 
4  and  turned  a  vast  many  women,  formerly  of  affluent 
4  and  easy  fortunes,  with  their  children,  almost  naked 
4  into  the  woods.     Tarleton,  at  the  house  of  General 
1  Richardson,  exceeded  his  usual  barbarity ;  for,  hay. 


240 

«  ing  dined  in  his  house,  he  not  only  burnt  it  after- 
«  wards,  but  having  driven  into  the  barns  a  number  of 

*  cattle,  hogs,  and  poultry,  he  consumed  them,  toge- 
'  ther  with  the  barn  and  the  corn  in  it,  in  one  gene- 
1  ral  blaze.     This  was  done  because  he  pretended  to 
{  believe,  that  the  poor  old  general  was  with  the  rebel 
{  army ;  though  had  he  opened  his  grave  before  the 
c  door,  he  might  have  seen  the  contrary.     Colonel 

*  Charles  CotesAvorth  Pinckney's  family  was  turned 
c  out  of  his  house :  in  short,  the  enemy  seem  deter- 
{  mined,  if  they  can,  to  break  every  man's  spirit,  if 
'  they  cannot  ruin  him  ;  engagements  of  capitulations 
'  and  proclamations,  are  no  security  against  their  op- 
'  pressions  and  cruelties.' 

EXTRACT  FROM  LORD  CORNWALIIS*  ORDERS. 

*  I  HAVE  given  orders  that  the  inhabitants  of 
'  the  province  who  have  subscribed,  and  have  taken 
«  part  in  this  revolt,  should  be  punished  with  the 
'  greatest  rigor,  and  also  those  who  will  not  turn  out, 

*  that  they  may  be  imprisoned,  and  their  property 
«  taken  from  them,  or  destroyed.     I  have  likewise 
<  ordered  that  compensation  be  made   out  of  their 

*  estates,  to  the  persons  who  have  been  injured  or 

*  oppressed  by  them.     I  have  ordered  in  the  most 

*  positive  manner,  that  every  militia  man,  who  has 
1  borne  arms  with  us,  and  afterwards  joined  the  ene- 
:  my,  shall  be  immediately  hanged.     I   desire   you 


241 

'  will  take  the  most  rigorous  measures  to  punish  the 

*  rebels  in  the  district  in  which  you  command,  and 
4  that  you  obey  in  the  strictest  manner  the  directions 

*  I  have  given  in  this  letter,  relative  to  the  inhabitants 
'  of  this  country.' 

1  CORNWALLIS.' 

THESE  orders  were  sent  to  every  post  throughout 
the  country. 

THE  unfortunate  Colonel  Hayne  was  executed  un- 
der this  general  order,  as  appears  by  Colonel  Bal- 
four's  letter  to  General  Greene. 

EXTRACT  OF  COLONEL  BALFOUR'S  LETTER. 
'  I  COME  now  to  that  part  which  respects  Colonel 
'  Hayne ;  on  which  head,  I  inform  you,  it  took  place 
'  by  the  joint  order  of  Lord  Rawdon  and  myself,  in 
4  consequence  of  the  most  express  directions  from 
{  Lord  Cornwallis  to  us,  in  regard  to  all  those  who 
*  shall  be  found  in  arms,  after  being  at  their  own  re- 
'*  quest,  received  as  British  subjects,  &c.' 

COLONEL  Hayne  subscribed  a  declaration  of  alle- 
giance to  the  king  of  Great  Britain,  but  with  an 
express  condition,  that  he  never  should  be  called 
upon  to  take  up  arms  against  his  country  :  notwith- 
standing, he  was  soon  called  upon  to  take  up  arms 
and  join  the  British,  and  upon  refusal,  he  was 


threatened  with  close  confinement ;  this  induced  him 
to  consider  himself  as  released  of  engagements  with 
the  British  ;  and  he  took  the  command  of  a  regiment 
of  his  countrymen ;  he  was  soon  after  taken  by  a 
party  of  British  horse,  carried  into  town,  and  in  a. 
little  time,  executed  without  a  trial. 

THESE  were  horrid  times  for  poor  Carolina  I  Th« 
loss  of  property  was  now  of  no  consideration,  whilst 
the  blood  of  their  citizens  was  streaming  down  from 
every  pore. 

IT  was  generally  said,  and  t>elieved,  that  in  the 
district  of  Ninety-sis  alone,  fourteen  hundred  un- 
happy widows  and  orphans,  were  left  to  bemoan  the 
fate  of  their  unfortunate  fathers,  brothers  and  hus- 
bands killed  in  the  war. 

THE  mountaineers,  a  bold  and  hardy  people,  began 
to  be  alarmed  at  Colonel  Ferguson's  near  approach 
to  them  with  a  large  body  of  men,  and  being  inform- 
ed that  they  plundered  all  the  Whig  inhabitants  and 
treated  them  ill,  (they  had  never  yet  felt  the  effects 
of  the  war,)  they  spread  the  alarm  throughout  their 
country,  and  immediately  every  man  took  up  his 
rifle*  blanket  and  knapsack,  saddled  his  horse,  and 
went  in  pursuit  of  Colonel  Ferguson,  leaving  some 
few  in  their  rear  to  drive  the  cattle  after  them  ; 
and  some  hunters  were  kept  out  to  supply  them 
jpaore  plentifully  with  provisions.  They  soon  fell  in 
with  Ferguson's  en.aampa&ent  at  the  foot  of  King's 


243 

mount,*  the  whole  of  their  force  making  nine  hun-  / 
dred  and  ten  men.  Though  Colonel  Campbell  was 
said  to  command,  yet  Colonels  Cleveland,  Shelby,  Se- 
vier,  Williams,  Laccy,  and  Brenan,  each  commanded 
their  own  men,  and  an  excellent  disposition  they 
made,  so  that  their  attack  would  have  disconcerted 
the  most  experienced  officer  with  the  bravest  troopi. 
Colonel  Cleveland,  in  going  round  the  mountain,  dis- 
covered one  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  upon  which  he 
addressed  his  men  :  '  My  brave  fellows,  We  have  beat 

*  the  Tories,  and  we  can  beat  them  again ;  they  are  all 

*  cowards  :  if  they  had  the  spirit  of  men,  they  would 

*  join  their  fellow-citizens  in  supporting  the  indepen- 
'  dence  of  their  country.     When  you  are  engaged, 

*  you  are  not  to  wait  for  the  word  of  command  from 

*  me  :   I  will  show  you  by  my  example,  how  to  fight ; 

*  I  can  undertake  no  more  :  every  man  must  consider 

*  himself  as  an  officer,  and  act  from  his  own  judg- 

*  meht.     Fire  as  quick  as  you  can,  and  stand  your 

*  ground  as  long  as  you  can  :   when  you  can  do  no 
4  better,  get  behind  trees,  or  retreat ;  but  I  beg  you 

*  not  to  run  quite  off:  if  we  are  repulsed,  let  us  make 

*  a  point  of  returning  and  renewing  the  fight :  per- 


•  This  took  its  name  from  one  King,  who  lived  at  the  foot 
of  the  mount  with  his  family  :  it  is  near  the  corner  where  the 
North  and  South  Carolina  line  intersects  the  Cherokee  Indiana 
boundary  line. 


1  haps  we"  may  VaVe  better  hick  in  the  second  attempt 
«"than  the  first;  If  any  of  you  are  afraid,  such  shall 
f  have  leave  to  retire,  and  they  are  requested  imme- 
«  Ukitely  to  take  themselves  off.' 

WHEN   the   firing  began?    the   Americans   were 
Scattered  about  the  woods....  They  soon  collected  and 
were  all  animated  ;  every  one  acted  as  he  pleased: 
the  picket  in  a  little  time  gave  way  and  were  pursu- 
ed  up  the  mountain  to  their  main  body :   Colonel 
Ferguson  upon  hearing  the   firing  made  ready  his 
men  ;  and  upon  the  near  approach  of  the  Americans, 
ordered  his  men  to  charge  bayonets,  which  obliged 
them  to  retire.     Immediately  after,  Colonel  Shelby 
"came  up  with  his  party  unexpectedly,  and  threw  in  a 
heavy  fire,  which  obliged  Colonel  Ferguson  to  face 
about,  and  engage  Colonel   Shelby,  who  he  drove 
back  with  fixed  bayonets  ;  'at  the  same  time,  Colonel 
Campbell  came  up  from  another  quarter  and  renewed 
the  attack:  Colonel  Ferguson  again  faced  about  and 
obliged  him  to  fallback.     By  this  time  the  men  who 
first  begun  and  retreated,  returned  and  made  another 
attack.      In  short,   Colonel  Ferguson  was  so  beset 
from  every  point  by  a  number  of  active,  brave,  deter- 
mined men,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  retreat ; 
and  extricate  himself,  he  could  not ;  and  surrender, 
he    would  not.     At  length  he  received  his  mortal 
wound,  and  soon  after,  his  party  asked  for  quarters, 
which  was  granted,  and  they  surrendered  themselves 


245 

prisoners  of  war :  ten  of  the  most  notorious,  who  ds- 
scrved  death  by  the  laws  of  their  country,  were  im- 
mediately hang  up,  in  retaliation  for  a  number  of 
Americans  whom  the  British  hung  at  Ninety-six, 
Camden,  and  other  places.  In  this  action,  the  enemy 
lost,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  taken,  upwards  of  eleven 
hundred  men,  amongst  them  nearly  one  hundred  re- 
gulars. The  Americans  lost  very  few,  but  amongst 
them  the  brave  Colonel  Williams,  of  Ninety-six  dis- 
trict, and  Major  Cronicle;  and  it  is  easily  accounted 
for :  the  British  made  use  mostly  of  the  bayonet  in- 
stead of  firing  their  pieces.  It  was  impossible  for 
those  heavy  armed  troops  to  come  up  with  the 
strong,  active  mountaineers,  who  were  dispersed 
about  the  woods.  Had  Colonel  Ferguson  dispersed 
his  men  (who  were  equally  acquainted  with  bush- 
fighting)  and  fought  his  adversaries  in  their  own  way, 
he  would  have  had  a  better  chance  to  make  a  retreat. 
THIS  battle,  as  well  as  many  others  under  Generals 
Sumpter,  Marion  and  others,  proves  that  the  militia 
are  brave  men,  and  will  fight  if  you  let  them  come  to 
action  in  their  own  way.  There  are  very  few  in- 
stances when  they  have  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
that  they  could  be  brought  to  stand  and  reserve  their 
fire  until  the  enemy  came  near  enough.  Tlie  charge 
of  the  bayonet  they  never  could  stand,  and  it  can  ne- 
ver be  expected  that  undisciplined  troops  could  stand 
so  formidable  an  attack:  witness  the  affairs  of  Gene- 

VOL.   II.  2   I 


246 

ral  Gates,  at  Camden,  and  General  Greene,  at  Guil- 
ford  Court-house.  It  was  a  maxim  with  the  old  king 
of  Prussia,  that  young  troops  should  begin  to  fire  at 
two  hundred  yards  distance  ;  by  which  he  said  <  they 
1  became  animated,  and  enveloped  with  smoke,  saw 
*  no  danger,  and  rushed  on  like  old  soldiers.' 

THIS  afiair  at  King's  mount  revived  the  drooping 
spirits  of  the  Americans,  and  at  the  same  time  it  was 
u  very  severe  blow  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  to  lose  a 
brave,  experienced  and  confidential  officer,  and  eleven 
hundred  men,  was  a  serious  consideration  to  him ; 
after  which  he  was  obliged  to  contract  his  plans  into 
very  narrow  limits,  and  he  lost  all  hopes  of  recruiting 
his  army  from  that  part  of  the  country. 

SOON  after  General  Gates'  defeat,  when  the  hot 
weather  and  unhealthy  season  was  at  an  end,  Lord 
Cornwallis  left  a  small  guard  at  Camden,  and  march- 
ed off  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  and  took  post 
at  Charlotte,  in  North  Carolina.  This  proved  to  be  a 
very  uneasy  position  for  him,  as  Generals  Sumner 
and  Davison  encamped  in  the  neighborhood  with  a 
large  body  of  North  Carolina  militia  ;  and  any  de- 
tachments that  were  sent  out  by  him  were  sure  to 
be  attacked  and  driven  in,  or  taken.  Major  Davies' 
party  was  considerably  increased  by  volunteers  from 
the  low  country  :  he  was  very  fortunate  in  frequently 
falling  in  with  their  foraging  parties  and  convoys, 
and  taking  them.  The  riflemen  would  often  creep 


near  to  their  camp,  and  shoot  down  stragglers  :  none 
dared  to  venture  far  from  their  guards.  At  lastj  Lord 
Cornwallis  found  his  situation  so  very  disagreeable, 
and  being  apprehensive  for  the  safety  of  his  army, 
marched  off,  and  took  post  at  Winnsborough. 

THE  defeat  of  Colonel  Ferguson,  and  the  retreat 
of  Lord  Cornwallis  to  Winnsborough,  encouraged  the 
American  militia  to  collect  and  repair  to  the  camps 
of  their  respective  commanders  :  their  turning  out 
again  obliged  them  to  submit  to  strict  discipline,  and 
fight  bravely  ;  for,  if  they  should  be  taken  a  second 
time,  they  were  sure  to  be  hanged  :  their  only  place 
of  safety  was  with  the  army.  The  state  of  North 
Carolina  put  their  militia  who  were  under  General 
Smallwood  under  martial  law. 

EARLY  in  October,  General  Gates  detached  Gene- 
ral Morgan  from  Hillsborough,  with  three  hundred 
Maryland  and  Delaware  troops,  and  eighty  dragoons, 
to  aid  and  support  the  militia  of  Mecklenburgh  and 
Rowan  counties ;  from  this  ^detachment,  Colonel 
Washington  made  an  excursion  with  a  small  force, 
to  Colonel  Rugely's  fort,  about  fourteen  miles  from 
Camden  ;  in  which  he  had  collected  one  hundred 
and  twelve  of  the  British  militia  :  upon  the  appear- 
ance of  Colonel  Washington's  force  befoi-e  the  forti 
he  immediately  surrendered  the  whole  of  his  partyj 
to  a  pine-log  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  see 
every  day,  elevated  a  few  feet  from  the  ground  by  its 


24* 

branches  ;  but  upon  seeing  a  military  force  about  it, 
their  fears  converted  it  into  a  field-piece,  ready  to 
fire  upon  them  ;  this  occasioned  their  surrender. 

AFTER  General  Sumpter's  defeat  on  the  eighteenth 
of  August,  he  again  collected  a  number  of  volunteers, 
and  took  the  field  ;  and  immediately  after,  thirty  of 
his  former  party  rejoined  him,  and  one  hundred  of 
the  militia,  at  his  request,  also  joined  him  at  Sugar- 
creek,  and  the  militia  from  all  parts  came  in  to  him, 
and  put  themselves  under  his  command.  General 
Sumpter's  active,  martial  spirit  would  not  allow  him 
to  lay  still,  whilst  the  British  parties  were  roving 
about  the  country  unmolested)  robbing  and  murder- 
ing the  inhabitants. 

ALTHOUGH  there  was  no  continental  army  in 
South  Carolina  for  several  months,  it  can  never  be 
said  she  was  a  conquered  country,  whilst  Generals 
Sumptcr  and  Marion  each  kept  a  body  cf  men  in  the 
fisld,  in  support  of  her  independence.  General 
Sumpter's  party  increased  every  day  ;  he  ranged 
about  Enoree,  Broad  and  Tyger  rivers ;  often  chang- 
ing his  ground  which  he  could  do  with  great  facili- 
ty and  expedition,  as  his  men  were  all  on  horseback  ; 
'by  thus  moving  about  from  place  to  place,  he  fre- 
quently fell  in  with  the  enemy,  and  skirmished  with 
them  when  they  least  expected  it,  which  gave  him 
a  great  advantage.  On  the  twelfth  of  November, 
-  17SO,  he  had  a  smart  action  with  Major  Weyms, 


249 

who  commanded  a  body  of  infantry  and  dragoons ; 
he  defeated  them,  wounded  their  commanding  offir 
cer  and  took  him  prisoner  ;  and  although  this. man 
had  ordered  some  of  the  citizens  to  be  hanged,  and 
attended  ptrsonally  at  -their  execution,  burnt  many 
of  their  houses,  and  destroyed  their  property  in  a 
wanton  and  cruel  manner,  yet  he  was  treated  po- 
litely) and  suffered  to  go  to  .Charleston  upon  his 
parole!  Soon  after, this  affair; with  Major  Weyms, 
on  the^  seventeenth  of  November,  1780,  Colonel 
Tarleton  attacked  General  Sumpter  at  Black-stocks, 
near  Tyger-river,.with  a  considerable  body  of  infan- 
try and  cavalry :  this  was  a  serious  and  severe  con- 
flict, in  which  the  British  lost  three  officers  and  a 
great  number  of  men  ;  the  Americans  lost  but  few ; 
General  Sumpter  was  among  the  wounded,  by  which 
unlucky  accident,  we  lest  the  service,  for  several 
months,  of  a  brave,  active,  and  experienced  offi- 
cer, and  one  on  whom  the  militia  had  the  greatest 
reliance ;  his  spirited  and  prudent  conduct  in  the 
several  actions  which  he  had  had  with  the  British, 
procured  him  the  entire  confidence  of  his  countryj 
and  the  thanks  of  Congress.  [See  appendix,  note  25.] 
CONGRESS  authorized  and  requested  General 
Washington  to  appoint  an  officer  to  command  in  the 
Southern  department,  in  consequence  of  which  he 
nominated  Major  General  Greene,  a  native  of  Rhode- 
Island  :  this  appointment  gave  great  satisfaction  to 


crery  one  ;  his  military  abilities,  his  active  spirit^ 
his  great  resources  when  reduced  to  difficulties  in  the 
field,  his  having  been  quarter-master  general  to  the 
army  under  the  commander  in  chief  ;  all  these  qua- 
lities combined  together,  rendered  him  a  proper  offi- 
cer to  collect  and  to  organize  an  army  that  was  broken 
up  and  dispersed.  General  Gates'  army  that  had 
been  defeated  near  Camden,  on  the  sixteenth  of  Au- 
gust, in  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1780,  moved  down 
to  Charlotte. 

GENERAL  Greene  immediately  set  off  to  take  the 
command  of  the  Southern  army,  and  arrived  in  Char- 
lotte, on  the  second  day  of  December,  1780  ;  on  the 
eighth,  the  returns  made  to  him  of  the  army,  amount- 
ed to  nine  hundred  and  seventy  continentals,  and 
one  thousand  and  thirteen  militia,  and  a  respectable 
cavalry,  which  was  the  security  of  his  army  ;  most 
of  the  continentals  were  the  remainder  of  the  Mary- 
land and  Delaware  lines  that  had  been  defeated  near 
Camden  on  the  sixteenth  of  August ;  they  had  been 
four  years  in  service,  and  were  as  good  troops  as 
any  the  British  had  ;  they  were  half  starved,  unpaid, 
and  ill  clad,  and  had  been  in  this  situation  for  seve- 
ral months,  yet  there  was  no  murmuring  and  no 
desertion  :  with  this  army  General  Greene  took  the 
field,  against  a  superior  victorious  British  army,  ani 
many  other  difficulties  he  had  to  encounter;  the 
clothing,  the  pay  and  feeding  the  troops,  were  al- 


251 

most  impossible  to  be  effected  :  that  country  had  al- 
ready been  so  pillaged  and  robbed,  that  scarcely  enough 
was  left  for  the  inhabitants ;  the  difficulty  he  had  in 
procuring  provisions  for  his  army  at  Charlotte,  in- 
duced him  to  divide  his  force ;  he  accordingly  de- 
tached General  Morgan  with  a  strong  body,  to  the 
western  extremities  of  South  Carolina,  and  marched 
on  the  twentieth  of  December,  with  the  main  body 
to  Hicks'-creek,  opposite  Cheraw-hill ;  by  this  dis- 
position, he  covered  the  two  extremities  of  the  coun- 
try, and  gave  encouragement  to  the  militia  in  those 
parts,  to  embody  and  join  his  troops.  It  was  a  very 
wise  measure  in  General  Greene  to  divide  his  army 
and  separate  them  so  far ;  whereas,  if  he  had  kept 
them  together,  they  would  have  been  an  object  for 
the  British  to  strike  at,  but  in  this  detached,  distant 
situation,  Lord  Cornwallis  could  have  no  apprehen- 
sions from  them,  of  any  successful  operations  against 
his  superior  force. 

THE  British  established  a  post  at  Ninety-six,  which 
they  kept  possession  of  thirteen  months  :  moderate 
measures  were  first  pursued  with  the  inhabitants  ; 
but  some  of  the  most  notorious,  infamous  villians, 
who  called  themselves  king's  men,  by  shirking,  creep- 
ing, and  mean  submission,  insinuated  themselves  in- 
to the  confidence  of  the  British  so  much,  that  they 
were  appointed  officers  of  the  militia  :  they  then  be- 
gan to  shew  their  resentment  and  take  revenge  upon 


252 

their  former  friends  and  neighbors,  for  mere  private 
disputes  which  had  subsisted  between  them,  long 
preceding  this  lime  :  they  robbed,  they  plundered,  and 
even  murdered  the  whig  inhabitants  :  and,  although 
frequent  applications  were  made  for  redress)  no  at- 
tention was  paid  to  them  :  this  ill  treatment,  this 
violent  usage,  soon  alienated  the  new  subjects  from 
their  allegiance  and  obliged  them  to  break  their  en- 
gagements to  the  British,  and  to  resume  their  arms, 
and  join  the  Americans. 

LIEUTENANT  Colonel  Nisbet  Balfour,  a  proud, 
haughty  Scot,  carried  his  authority  with  a  very  high 
hand  ;  his  tyrannical,  insolent  disposition,  treated 
the  people  as  the  most  abject  slaves ;  he  even  issued 
an  order  *  That  every  man  who  was  not  in  his 
house  by  a  certain  day,  should  be  subject  to  military 
execution. 

THE  inhabitants,  tired  of  their  ill  treatment  and 
great  oppression,  and  finding  no  security  for  their 
lives  or  property,  sincerely  wished  for  an  American 
force  to  come  among  them.  At  this  critical  time, 
General  Morgan,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  December, 
appeared  amongst  them  with  a  body  of  troops  ;  and 
on  the  twenty-ninth,  detached  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Washington  with  his  own  regiment  and  two  hundred 
militia  horse,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  M'Call,  and 
dispersed  a  body  of  Tories  who  were  plundering  the 
Whig  militia:  Colonel  Washington  fell  in  with  them 


253 

near  Hammonds'  store ;  he  immediately  charged, 
and  routed  them  ;  many  were  killed,  and  about  forty- 
taken  prisoners.  The  next  day  Colonel  Washington 
detached  an  officer  with  a  small  body  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  to  pursue  the  fugitives,  and  to  surprise  a  fort 
about  seventeen  miles  from  Ninety-six,  in  which  Ge- 
neral Cunningham  commanded  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  militia,  in  which  was  a  great  deal  of  plun- 
der taken  from  the  whig  inhabitants,  besides  forage 
grain,  and  other  provisions  for  the  British  army. 
•The  Americans,  after  destroying  the  fort  and  all  the 
provisions  which  they  could  not  carry  off,  joined  Co- 

•  lonel  Washington  again.  Lord  Cornwallis  could  not 
bear  the  idea  of  suffering-General  Morgan  to  remain 
in  that  part  of -the  country,  and  draw  the  militia  over 
to  the  Americans  -i,  he  therefore  detached  Colonel 
Tarleton  with  one  thousand  infantry  and  two  hundred 

:  and  fifty  cavalry,  th6  flower  of  his  army,  with  two 
field  pieces,  to  dispossess  General  Morgan  and  drive 
him  quite  off.  General  Morgan  got  intelligence  that 
Colonel  Tavleton  was  in  pursuit  of  him.  The  Ame- 
ricans endeavored  to  avoid  an  action,  and  were  re- 
treating as  fast  as  possible,  because  they  knew  that 
Tarleton's  force  was  greatly  superior  to  theirs.  The 
British  having  left  a  part  of  -their  baggage  about 
twenty-five  miles  in  their  rear,  under  a  guard  of  one 
hundred  men  to  follow,  pursued  the  Americans  so 

'closely  that  they  could  not  get  off  without  the  loss  of 
VOL*  ii.  2  K 


254 

their  baggage,  which  they  were  unwilling  to  part 
vith.  The  last  and  best  account  which  General 
Morgan  got  of  Tarleton,  was  by  a  horseman  who  left 
them  at  about  fifteen  miles  distance  ;  and  before  he 
could  have  got  to  General  Morgan,  they  must  have 
been  within  ten  miles  of  him :  he  immediately  called 
some  of  his  officers  together  to  consult  upon  what 
was  best  to  be  done,  when  it  was  determined  to  try 
the  event  of  a  battle,  and  if  they  were  not  successful, 
they  could  but  retreat,  and  give  up  their  baggage. 
At  their  near  approach,  on  the  seventeenth  of  Janu- 
ary, 1781,  General  Morgan  drew  up  his  men  on  an 
open  pine  barren  in  the  following  order  :  (the  ground 
equal  to  both)  the  militia  of  about  four  hundred  men 
formed  the  first  line  under  General  Pickens ;  the  con- 
tinentals of  about  five  hundred  (two  hundred  of  whom 
were  six  months  men,  very  raw  troops)  formed  the 
second  line,  commanded  by  Colonel  Howard,  about 
two  hundred  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  first.  Colonel 
Washington,  with  about  seventy-five  continental  ca- 
valry, and  forty-five  mounted  militia,  with  swords, 
under  Colonel  M'Call,  in  the  rear  of  the  whole  :  in 
this  disposition  did  they  wait  to  receive  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Tarleton,  as  he  drew  near,  saw  the  Ame- 
ricans already  formed  :  he  halted  and  formed  his 
men  ;  they  then  advanced,  and  threw  in  a  heavy  fire 
jpon  the  militia.  General  Pickens  had  ordered  his 
men  to  reserve  their  fire,  till  the  enemy  came  within 


255 

fifty  yards,  which  they  did,  with  great  firmness  and 
success ;  but  they  were  soon  obliged  to  give  way  and 
retreat  behind  the  second  line.  The  British  imme- 
diately advanced  upon  the  second  line,  who  received 
them  very  warmly,  and  a  heavy  fire  commenced  be- 
tween them :  at  length,  the  second  line  began  to  give 
way.  Colonel  Washington  perceiving  this,  imme- 
diately rode  up  close  to  the  rear  of  the  second  line 
with  his  cavalry,  and  spoke  to  Colonel  Howard,  '  that 

<  if  he  would  rally  his  men,  and  charge  the  enemy's 
*  line,  he  would  charge  the  cavalry  that  were   got 

<  among  our  militia  in  the  rear.'    Colonel  Washing- 
ton, riding  up  so  close  to  the  rear  of  our  second  line, 
stopped  the  British  for  a  moment,  which  gave  time 
to  Colonel  Howard  to  rally  his  men,  and  charge  with 
fixed  bayonets.    This  soon  obliged  the  British  to  fall 
back  upon  their  second  line,  and  our  militia  at  the 
same  time  recovered  themselves  and  charged,  which 
threw  them  into  the  utmost  confusion;  and  Colonel 
Washington  charged  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  were 
cutting  down  our  militia,  and  soon  drove  them  off. 
At  the  moment  that  the  enemy  were  in  this  general 
confusion,  Colonel  Howard  called  out  to  them,   to 
1  lay  down  their  arms,  and  they   should  have    good 
t  quarters.     Upon  this,  upwards  of  five  hundred  laid 
down  their  arms,  and  surrendered  themselves  prison- 
ers.    The  first  battalion  of  the  seventy-first,  and  two 
companies  of  light  infantry,    laid  down  their  arms. 


256 

Upwards  of  two  hundred  were  left  dead  upon  the 
field,  besides  a  great  number  wounded ;  eight  hun- 
dred stands  of  arms,  two  field  pieces,  and  thirty -five 
baggage  waggons  fell  into  the  Americans  hands. 
Colonel  Washington  pursued  the  British  cavalry 
twenty-five  miles  ;  at  fifteen  miles,  he  came  to  where 
they  had  burnt  their  baggage  waggons.  So  great 
was  the  consternation  in  which  the  British  infantry 
were,  at  seeing  their  cavalry  gallop  off,  that,  either 
from  pique  or  panic,  numbers  of  them  never  fired  a 
gun.  In  this  action,  six  hundred  were  made  pri- 
soners ;  so  that  this  large  detachment  of  one  thousand 
infantry,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry  from 
Lord  Cornwallis*  army,  was  almost  entirely  lost ;  very 
few  got  off,  except  the  cavalry,  and  those  who  were 
left  in  the  rear  with  the  waggons. 

THIS  victory  was  so  complete,  that  the  Americans 
were  astonished  at  it  themselves.  The  Americans 
had  only  twelve  men  killed,  and  sixty  wounded. 

THIS  defeat  of  Colonel  Tarleton's  at  the  battle  of 
the  Cowpens,  chagrined  and  disappointed  the  British 
officers  and  Tories  in  Charlestown  exceedingly.  I 
happened  to  be  in  Charlestown  at  the  time  when  the 
news  arrived.  I  saw  them  standing  in  the  streets  in 
small  circles,  talking  over  the  affair  with  very  grave 
faces.  I  knew  the  particulars  as  soon  as  they  did. 
Governor  Rutledge  sent  in  a  person  on  some  pr«tence 
vith  a  Hag;  but  in  fact,  it  was  to  inform  the  Ameri- 


257 

can  prisoners  of  our  success  :  the  person  informed 
me  of  the  whole  affair,  which  I  communicated  to  the 
officers  at  Haddrell's-point,  on  my  return  in  the  even- 
ing. The  news  gave  great  joy,  and  put  us  all  in  high 
spirits.  Some  of  the  old  British  officers  who  were 
made  prisoners,  andparoledto  Charlestown,  when  they 
came  down,  were  exceedingly  angry  indeed,  at  their 
defeat,  and  were  heard  to  say,  '  that  was  the  conse- 
4  quence  of  trusting  such  a  command  to  a  boy  like 
1  Tarleton.'  There  is  no  doubt  but  Colonel  Tarleton 
was  a  brave  man,  and  a  good  soldier,  but  in  this  affair 
he  displayed  neither  generalship  nor  courage,  but 
galloped  off  with  his  two  hundred  and  fifty  horsej 
when  pursued  by  about  seventy  continental  cavalry? 
and  forty-five  militia  horse,  and  left  his  infantry  to 
be  made  prisoners  of.  Colonel  Tarleton  should  have 
requested  a  court  of  inquiry  to  have  cleared  himself 
of  any  charge  of  misconduct  in  this  affair,  notwith- 
standing his  aquittal  in  a  letter  from  Lord  Cornwallis 
to  him. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM    LORD    CORNWALLIS 

TO  COLONEL  TARLKTON. 

'  You  have   forfeited  no  part  of  my  esteem  as 

'  an  officer,  by  the   unfortunate  event  of  the  action 

'  of  the  seventeenth  instant ;  the  means  you  used  to 

'  bring  the  enemy  to  action,  were  able  and  masterly, 

.and  must  ever  do  y  ou  honor ;  your  disposition  was 


258 

'  unexceptionable  ;  the  total  misbehavior  of  the  troops, 
«  could  alone  have  deprived  you  of  the  glory  which 
'  was  justly  your  due.' 

THE  thanks  of  Congress  were  given  to  General 
Morgan  and  his  officers  and  men.  [See  appendix, 
note  26.] 

THIS  great  victory  at  the  Cowpens*  changed  the 
face  of  American  affairs,  and  raised  the  drooping 
spirits  of  her  desponding  friends.  In  two  actions 
soon  after  each  other,  the  British  lost  about  two 
thousand  men  :  that  at  King's  mount,  on  the  seventh 
of  October,  and  that  at  the  Cowpens  of  the  seven- 
teenth of  January,  1781  :  the  latter  was  of  more  se- 
rious consequence  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  because  it 
deprived  him  of  nine  hundred  of  his  best  troops. 

COLONEL  Tarleton  having  been  successful  in  sur- 
prising unguarded  troops,  and  the  more  unguarded 
militia,  Lord  Cornwallis  had  no  doubt  ef  his  being 
a  brave  and  active  officer  ;  and  having  a  mean  opi- 
nion of  our  militia,  from  their  behavior  at  Camden, 
he  was,  no  doubt,  flattering  himself,  that  he  would 
receive  accounts  from  Colonel  Tarleton,  of  his  hav- 
ing defeated  General  Morgan  ;  while  he  was  pos- 


*  An  account  of  the  affair  at  the  Cowpcns,  I  had  from  an 
American  officer  of  great  veracity  and  hiflli  rank,  and  one  that 
was  very  conspicuous  on  that  day  in  the  action* 


259 

sessed  of  this  idea,  to  his  utter  astonishment,  he 
got  the  unwelcome  and  unexpected  intelligence  of 
Tarleton's  complete  overthrow.  What  must  his  feel- 
ings have  been,  when  he  received  this  account  of 
his  favorite  officer,  and  one  in  whom  he  had  the 
greatest  opinion,  in  regard  to  his  military  abilities, 
and  who  had  with  him  upwards  of  twelve  hundred 
of  the  pick  of  his  army,  that  he  should  be  defeated 
by  about  one  thousand  men,  and  half  of  them  mili- 
tia ?  His  chagrin  and  his  disappointment  must  have 
been  great  indeed,  upon  this  occasion. 

LORD  Cornwallis,  in  hopes  of  retrieving  the  credit 
of  his  troops,  and  recovering  the  prisoners  taken  at  the 
Cowpens,  left  all  his  baggage,  and  took  only  a  few 
waggons,  sufficient  to  carry  the  necessaries  for  his 
army,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  General  Morgan  ;  his 
long  and  rapid  marches,  soon  brought  him  near  to 
General  Morgan ;  they  came  to  the  Catawba-ford 
on  the  evening  of  that  day  when  the  Americans  cross- 
ed it ;  and  before  the  next  morning,  a  heavy  rain 
made  it  impassable,  by  which  fortunate  event,  Gene- 
ral Morgan  pushed  on  with  his  detachment  and  pri- 
soners, and  got  off,  and  Major  Hyrne  proceeded 
with  the  prisoners.  The  hasty  marches  after  Gene- 
ral Morgan,  induced  General  Greene  to  retreat  from 
Hicks'-creek,  lest  the  British  should  get  between 
the  two  divisions  of  his  army.  This  affair  of  Colonel 
Tarleton's,  at  the  Cowpens,  hurried  Lord  Cornwallis 


.260 

into  his.  plan  of  subjugating  Xorth  Carolina  :  before 
it  was  ripened  into  maturity,  Major  Hyrne,  had 
been  previously  dispatched  to  receive  the  prisoners, 
and  conduct  them  to  Virginia. 

GE-KERAL  Greene  left  the  main  body  of  his  army 
under  the  command  of  General  Huger,  with  orders 
to  proceed  and  rendezvous  at  Guildford  Court-house. 
To  facilitate  his  march,  all  the  heavy  baggage  was 
ordered  to  Hillsborough,  and  he,  himself,  rode  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles,  to  join  General  Morgan  on 
the  Catawba-river,  who  was  at  some  considerable 
distance  before  Lord  Cornwallis,  where  he  could 
best  command  the  two  divisions  of  his  army. 

AT  this  time,  General  Greene  joined  General 
Morgan  (who  intended  to  have  gone  over  the  moun- 
tains, to  avoid  Lord  Cornwallis)  and  directed  the 
movements  of  both  divisions  of  his  army,  so  as  to 
form  a  junction  at  Guildford  Court-house. 

As  soon  as  the  Catawba-river  was  fordable,  Lord 
Cornwallis  prepared  for  crossing  ;  and,  in  order  to 
deceive  the  Americans,  made  several  feints  at  difier- 
ent  fording  places,  and  early  in  the  morning,  on 
the  first  of  February,  he  crossed  over,  near  M'Gow- 
ans,  which  was  defended  by  a  party  of  militia,  un- 
der General  Davidson  ;  the  British  crossed  the  ri- 
ver, under  fire  of  the  militia,  with  shouldered  arms, 
and  formed  on  the  opposite  bank  ;  they  then  engag- 
ed the  militia,  but  General  Davidson  being  killed 


26) 

early  in  the  action,  his  men  were  dispirited,  and 
made  a  precipitate  retreat :  the  militia  about  the 
neighborhood,  although  General  Greene  was  amongst 
them,  could  not  be  persuaded  to  take  up  arms  :  all 
the  fords  were  abandoned,  and  the  British  crossed 
without  any  opposition. 

THE  British  having  possession  of  the  two  southern 
states,  began  to  extend  their  views  to  the  conquering 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina;  and  the  more  easily  to 
accomplish  their  plan,  Major  General  Leslie  was 
detached  from  New- York  to  Chesapeak,  with  three 
thousand  men.  On  his  arrival  there,  Lord  Corn-  ' 
wallis  ordered  him  to  march  immediately  to  Charles- 
ton, with  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  then  to  join  his 
army  :  one  frigate  and  two  sloops  of  war,  took  pos_ 
session  of  Wilmington  ;  and  Major  Craig  was  de- 
tached with  three  hundred  men,  to  take  post  there  : 
this  position  was  extremely  convenient  for  Lord 
Cornwallis*  army,  from  whence  he  could  draw  sup- 
plies for  his  troops,  without  any  risk. 

ABOUT  this  time,  a  large  detachment  was  sent  from 
New- York,  under  Major  General  Phillips  and  Briga- 
dier General  Arnold,  the  American  traitor,  who  the 
British  gave,  for  his  treachery,  the  rank  of  brigadier 
in  their  army. 

Now  the  British  and  American  generals  began  to 
display  their  military  skill ;  the  one  in  pursuing,  the 

VOL.   II.  3  L 


other  in  retreating;  inarching  and  counter-marching, 
and  various  manoeuvres  \vere  made;  the  one  endea- 
voring to  join  the  main  body  of  his  army  under 
General  Hnrjcr,  whilst  the  other  endeavored  to  bring 
on  an  action  before  the  junction  could  be  made.  Ge- 
neral Greene  crossed  the  Yadkin,  partly  in  flats,  and 
partly  by  fording,  on  the  second  and  third  day  of  Fe- 
bruary, and  secured  all  the  boats  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river.  Lord  Cornwallis  was  close  in  his  rear, 
but  the  want  of  boats,  and  the  rapid  rise  of  the  river, 
from  the  excessive  rains,  rendered  his  crossing  im- 
possible. This  was  the  second  narrow  escape  General 
Morgan's  detachment  had  from  Lord  Cornwallis. 

THE  British,  disappointed  at  not  crossing  the  trail- 
ing ford  on  the  Yadkin,  were  obliged  to  march  to  the 
upper  fords,  which  are  generally  passable.  This  gave 
time  for  the  junction  of  the  two  divisions  of  the  Ame- 
rican army.  Whilst  Lord  Cornwallis  and  General 
Greene  were  opposed  to  each  other  in  North  Carolina, 
General  Marion  was  not  idle  in  the  lower  parts  of  South 
Carolina  ;  he  had  a  small  party  of  mounted  militia, 
and  his  principal  range  was  between  Santee  and 
Cooper-rivers ;  his  camp  was  in  Santee-swamp, 
sometimes  on  the  south  side,  at  other  times  on  the 
north  of  the  river  ;  always  in  a  safe  position,  where 
lie  never  could  be  surprised  ;  from  whence  he  sent 
cut  small  parties,  and  frequently  intercepted  the 
convoys  of  provisions.  He  perplexed  the  British 


263 

very  much,  by  moving  his  camp  so  often  that  they 
could  not  tell  where  to  find  him  ;  and  to  hunt  for 
him  in  the  swamps,  they  were  afraid,  lest  they  should 
fall  into  an  ambuscade.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  Janu- 
ary, he  sent  out  two  small  parties,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  and  Captain  Postell,  to  cross  Santee, 
and  take  different  routs ;  the  first  destroyed  a  great 
quantity  of  stores  at  Manigault's-ferry  ;  the  latter 
did  the  same  at  some  other  place.  Soon  after  this, 
he  got  information  of  a  number  of  waggons  under  a 
convoy,  near  Monk's  corner  ;  he  immediately  march- 
ed off,  surprised  them,  and  destroyed  fourteen  wag- 
gons loaded  with  stores,  took  forty  prisoners,  most 
of  them  regular  troops,  without  losing  a  man. 

GENERAL  Greene  and  General  Huger  formed  a 
junction  atGuilford  Court-house,  on  the  seventeenth 
of  February,  1781,  yet  their  numbers  were  so  in- 
ferior to  the  British,  that  General  Greene  could  not 
venture  an  action  :  he  called  a  council  of  his  officers, 
and  the  result  of  their  opinion  was,  that  he  ought 
to  retire  over  the  Dan,  and  avoid  an  action  as  much 
as  possible,  until  he  should  be  reinforced. 

LORD  Cornwallis,  well  knowing  the  inferiority  of 
the  American  army,  endeavored  to  cut  off  General 
Greene's  retreat  into  Virginia  ;  and  with  this  view, 
he  kept  possession  of  the  upper  country,  where  the 
rivers  were  fordable,  which  obliged  General  Greene 
to  keep  below  where  the  rivers  were  impassable  ;  and 


364 

being  informed  that  there  were  not  sufficient  num- 
bers of  boats  to  cross  his  army,  was  in  hopes  of  fon> 
ing  General  Greene  to  an  action,  before  he  could 
cross  the  river. 

GENERAL  Greene,  before  he  began  his  retreat  from 
Guilford  Court-house,  very  wisely  made  two  divisions 
of  his  army.  The  light  troops  were  composed  of 
Lee's  legion,  and  Colonel  Howard's  battalion  (conv 
pleated) ;  the  cavalry  commanded  by  Colonel  Wash- 
ington, and  a  corps  of  Virginia  riflemen  under  Major 
Campbell,  the  whole  together  making  about  seven 
hundred  men.  These  he  put  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Williams,  commandant  of  the 
Maryland  line :  he  began  his  march  from  Guilford 
Court-house  on  the  tenth  of  February.  The  main 
army  and  light  troops  took  different  routs  t»  avoid  a 
pursuit.  The  next  day,  the  latter  had  a  reincountrc 
with  the  advanced  of  the  British  army,  in  which  an 
officer  and  six  or  seven  men  of  Tarleton's  legion 
were  made  prisoners,  and  some  few  killed.  The  light 
troops  manoeuvred  and  skirmished  with  the  British  in 
order  to  deceive  Lord  Cornwallis  with  respect  to  the 
route  of  the  main  army,  which  gave  General  Greene 
lime  to  send  off  hii  baggage.  Lord  Cornwallis  by 
his  close  pursuit  obliged  the  American  light  troops 
on  the  fourteenth,  to  retreat  forty  miles ;  and  Gene-r 
ral  Greene  on  that  day  crossed  the  whole  of  his  army, 
artillery  and  baggage  Into  Virginia,  over  Boyd's  and 


265 

Irvin's  ferries,  on  the  Dan,  without  any  interruption, 
and  waited  himself  the  arrival  of  the  light  troops,  and 
saw  them  all  safe  over  that  night.  The  pursuit  of 
the  British  was  so  close  that  the  van  of  their  army- 
arrived  at  the  river,  as  the  rear  of  the  Americans  had 
crossed. 

THE  British  were  extremely  mortified  and  disap- 
pointed at  General  Greene's  escape  into  Virginia  be- 
fore  they  could  have  a  blow  at  him :  they  had  thought 
it  impossible.  However,  Lord  Cornwallis  consoled 
himself  with  driving  General  Greene  off,  and  having 
entire  possession  of  North  Carolina.  He  dared  not 
to  follow  the  American  army  into  Virginia,  as  he 
knew  that  state  would  be  too  powerful  for  him.  He 
contented  himself  with  staying  in  North  Carolina,  and 
calling  upon  the  loyal  inhabitants  to  make  good  their 
promise  of  rising  in  favor  of  the  British  government ; 
and  to  make  it  more  convenient  for  them  to  join  him, 
he  retired  to  Hillsborough,  where  he  raised  the  royal 
standard,  and  by  proclamation  called  upon  all  his 
friends  to  join  him.  General  Greene,  in  order  to 

frustrate  Lord  Cornwallis'  plan  of  embodying  the 

' 

Tories,  re-crossed  the  Dan  on  the  twenty-third,  and 
detached  General  Pickens  with  some  light  troops,  and 
Lee's  legidn  in  pursuit  of  Colonel  Tarleton,  who, 
with  a  considerable  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry  had 
crossed  the  Haw-river  to  encourage  and  support  the 

Tories.     Colonel  Pyles,    who,    with  three   hundred 


266 

and  fifty  Tories,  was  marching  to  join  the  British, 
fell  in  with  the  American  party  :  having  no  suspi- 
cions of  their  re-crossing  the  Dan,  he  took  them  for 
Tarleton's  detachment.  While  they  were  under  this 
mistake,  the  Americans  attacked  them  to  great  ad- 
vantage, and  even  when  they  were  cutting  them 
down,  they  were  protesting  their  attachment  to  the 
king.  About  the  same  time,  a  party  who  were  go- 
ing to  join  the  British,  fell  in  with  Tarleton's  detach- 
ment, who  took  them  for  rebels,  and  cut  them  to 
pieces,  so  that  the  poor  Tories  were  between  two 
fires.  Lord  Cornwallis  continued  several  days  in 
that  part  of  the  country  were  Pyles  was  defeated,  in 

hopes  of  picking  up  some  of  the  stragglers  belong- 
ing to  the  loyalists;  but  in  that  he  was  disappointed: 
he  said  himself,  that  he  could  find  none  but  «  timid 
*  friends,  or  inveterate  enemies.' 

GENERAL  Greene's  re-crossing  the  Dan-river  in- 
to North  Carolina,  obliged  Lord  Cornwallis  to  quit 
Hillsborough,  a  few  days  after  he  had  issued  his 
proclamation,  inviting  his  friends  to  join  him  at  that 
place,  and  was  very  much  disappointed  at  not  be- 
ing reinforced  by  the  loyalists,  from  whom  he  had 
great  expectations.  A  large  body  of  them,  had 
marched  to  join  him,  but  upon  hearing  that  the 
American  army  had  returned  into  North  Carolina, 
and  knowing  the  fate  of  their  friends  under  Colonel 
4  Pyles,  they  were  terrified,  and  returned  home,  to 
wait  a  more  favorable  time. 


267 

GENERAL  Greene's  retreat  into  Virginia,  awak- 
ened the  people  of  that  state,  and  they  began  to  be 
alarmed  for  their  own  safety :  a  great  number  of 
the  militia  turned  out,  but  very  few  of  them  were 
armed,  and  many  of  them  declined  going  into 
North  Carolina.  A  small  brigade  of  four  or  five 
hundred  men,  commanded  by  General  Stevens,  was 
all  the  reinforcements  General  Greene  could  get 
from  Virginia ;  with  these  he  re-crossed  the  Dan. 
Although  General  Greene's  army  was  greatly  in- 
ferior to  Lord  Cornwallis'  yet  he  was  obliged  to  go 
into  North  Carolina,  to  be  a  check  upon  the  Tories, 
and  to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible,  the  British 
from  getting  supplies  for  their  army.  General 
Greene  kept  as  close  as  he  could,  without  coming 
to  an  action,  as  his  cavalry  could  always  secure  him 
a  safe  retreat.  For  two  or  three  weeks  the  two  armies 
were  manoeuvreing,  in  marching  and  counter-march- 
ing: Lord  Cornwallis  endeavoring  to  bring  on  an  ac- 
tion, whilst  General  Greene  as  studiously  avoided  it, 
until  his  reinforcements  should  arrive  from  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina.  On  the  eleventh  of  March,  Ge- 
neral Lawson  arrived  from  Virginia,  with  a  brigade 
of  militia,  and  four  hundred  regular  troops,  raised 
for  eighteen  months,  besides  two  brigades  of  mili- 
tia, commanded  by  Generals  Butler  and  Eaton,  from 
North  Carolina :  these  gave  the  Americans  a  great 
superiority  in  numbers  ;  and  General  Greene  began 
now  to  prepare  to  give  Lord  Cornwallis  battle,  and 


268 

broke  up  his  corps  of  light  troops,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Williams,  with  thanks  to  them  for  their 
eminent  services,  while  acting  as  a  separate  corps 
from  the  main  army  ;  he  ordered  them  to  fall  in  the 
line,  and  join  their  respective  corps ;  and  he  then 
inarched  to  Guilford  Court-house,  and  issued  the 
following  order  : 

*  THE   great  probability  of  coming  to  a  general 

*  action  in  a  short  time,    must  be  a  consideration 

*  that  will  induce  every  officer  and  soldier  to  do  his 

*  duty  ;  and  if  order  and  discipline  are  maintained, 

*  so  great  a  confidence  has  the  general  in  the  brave- 
'  ry  of  the  troops,  that  he  flatters  himself  the  efforts 
c  of  his  countrymen  will  be  favored  by  heaven,  and 
'  crowned  with  success.' 

Otf  the  fifteenth  of  March,  1781,  the  two  armies 
were  drawn  out  near  Guilford  Court-house  for  action : 
the  Americans  consisted  of  about  four  thousand, 
five  hundred  men,  in  three  lines  :  the  North  Caro. 
lina  militia  under  Generals  Butler  and  Eaton,  of 
about  one  thousand  men,  formed  the  first  line  :  the 
second  line  was  commanded  by  Generals  Stevens 
and  Lawson,  of  about  seventeen  hundred  Virginia 
militia  :  the  third  line  was  of  the  Maryland  and 
Delaware  continental  troops,  of  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred men,  commanded  by  General  Huger,  on  the 
right,  and  Colonel  Williams  on  the  left  :  Colonel 


269 

Washington  with  his  cavalry,  and  a  body  of  the  De- 
laware light  infantry  and  some  riflemen  under  Colo- 
nel Lynch,  covered  the  right  flank:  Colonel  Lee, 
with  his  legion,  and  some  riflemen  under  Colonel 
Campbell,  the  left.  After  the  cannonade  begun 
the  British  advanced  in  three  columns,  and  display- 
ed the  Hessians  on  the  right,  Colonel  Webster's 
brigade  on  the  left,  and  the  guards  in  the  centre. 
Webster's  brigade  attacked  the  front  line,  which 
gave  way  when  their  adversaries  were  at  the  distance 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  many  of  them  with- 
out firing  a  gun  :  the  Virginians  kept  up  a  smart 
fire  and  did  great  execution,  until  they  were  ordered 
to  retreat.  General  Stevens  had  posted  some  rifle- 
men in  the  rear  of  his  line,  with  orders' to  shoot 
every  man  down  that  quitted  his  post.  General 
Stevens,  when  he  saw  the  North  Carolina  militia 
give  way,  ordered  his  line  to  open  intervals,  to  let 
them  pass  through,  and  gave  out  amongst  his  men, 
that  they  had  orders  to  retreat,  which  prevented  it 
having  any  bad  effect  upon  them.  The  continental 
troops  were  next  attacked,  and  the  business  between 
them  and  the  British,  became  very  serious.  The 
cavalry  under  Colonel  Washington,  supported  by 
the  Maryland  troops,  commanded  by  Colonel  Gunby 
and  Colonel  Howard,  made  such  a  charge,  that 
they  rode  down  the  whole  regiment  of  guards,  in 
which  a  great  many  of  their  officers  and  men  were 

VOL,    II.  2  M 


270 

killed  and  wounded.  This  heavy  charge,  being 
vrell  supported  by  the  infantry,  obliged  the  British 
to  fall  back ;  and  when  General  Huger  received  or- 
ders to  retreat,  the  Americans  were  pressing  close 
upon  them.  This  action  lasted  one  hour  and  an 
half,  when  the  Americans  retreated.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  kept  the  field,  and  General  Greene  retired 
over  the  Reedy-fork,  about  three  miles.  This  vic- 
tory cost  the  British  dear  :  their  killed  and  wounded 
were  upwards  of  six  hundred;*  amongst  the  first 
were  two  colonels,  three  captains,  and  a  number  of 
subalterns :  of  the  latter,  two  brigadiers,  one  colo- 
nel, and  a  number  of  other  officers.  The  Ameri- 
cans had  three  hundred  continentals,  and  one  hun- 
dred of  the  Virginia  militia  killed  and  wounded,  and 
lost  two  field-pieces  (six  pounders)  which  had  been 
alternately  in  the  possession  of  the  two  armies,  dur- 
ing the  action.  At  this  victory,  there  were  great 
rejoicings  in  Charleston,  the  troops  were  turned 
out,  and  a  feu-de-joye  was  fired  ;  though  some  of 


*  It  is  remarkable  that  whenever  the  British  and  Americans 
came  to  fair  firing  in  battle,  the  first  always  lost  double  the 
number  of  men  ;  and  the  reason  is,  perhaps,  because  the 
Americans  are  bred  to  arms,  and  accustomed  to  fire  at  single 
objects,  and  were  they  blind-folded,  would  naturally  level 
their  pieces  well;  whilst  the  British  soldiers,  who  are  taught 
to  fiie  by  platoons,  always  fire  too  bigb  or  too  low* 


271 

the  British  said  that  such  another  victory  would  ruin 
them.  Lord  Cornwallis'  conduct  after  this  affair 
proves  that  this  victory  gave  him  no  advantage,  and 
that  it  left  him  in  a  much  worse  situation  than  be- 
fore it  happened.  Three  days  after  the  battle,  he 
issued  a  proclamation,  [See  appendix,  note  27.]  set- 
ting forth  his  complete  victory,  and  calling  upon  all 
the  loyal  subjects,  to  come  forward,  and  take  an 
active  part  in  restoring  good  order  and  govern- 
ment, offering  pardon  to  all  who  should  surrender 
themselves  by  the  twentieth  day  of  April ;  and  on 
that  day,  his  lordship  destroyed  all  his  baggage,  left 
his  hospital  and  seventy-five  wounded  men,  with  a 
great  number  of  loyalists  in  the  neighborhood  of 
•Guilford,  and  marched  off  for  the  sea-coast,  which 
shows  that  he  thought  himself  in  no  condition  to 
keep  the  field ;  and  thirte  en  days  before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  act  of  grace,  he  reached  his  shipping  at 
Wilmington,  and  left  the  whole  of  the  upper  coun- 
try in  the  power  of  General  Greene's  army.  Lord 
Cornwallis  was  extremely  mortified  at  not  receiv- 
ing some  support  from  the  Scotch  Highlanders, 
settled  at  Cross-creek:  although  he  marched  through 
their  settlements,  and  they  were  opposed  to  the 
American  measures,  yet  they  kept  aloof  from  the 
British.  On  General  Greene's  being  informed  of 
Lord  Cornwallis'  movements,  he  immediately  de- 
camped, and  followed  him,  and  continued  his  pur- 


suit  as  far  as  Ramsay's  mill,  on  Deep-river,  so  ra- 
pidly that  the  British  had  just  crossed,  when  the 
Americans  arrived :  they  suffered  much  in  this  pur- 
suit, for  want  of  provisions.  Lord  Cornwallis  re- 
mained three  weeks  at  Wilmington,  with  the  Bri- 
tish army  ;  then  marched  them  to  Hallifax,  and 
from  thence  to  Petersburgh  in  Virginia,  on  the 
lower  route,  where  he  met  with  no  opposition  ;  and 
on  the  twentieth  of  May  he  joined  the  British  forces 
in  Virginia,  under  Major  General  Phillips  and  Bri- 
gadier General  Arnold. 

GENERAL  Greene,  before  he  knew  of  Lord  Corn- 
wallis' determination  to  proceed  to  Virginia  with  his 
army,  resolved  to  re-commence  military  operations  in 
South  Carolina,  but  first  issued  his  general  amnestyr 
inviting  the  loyalists  to  join  him,  and  sent  orders  to 
General  Pickens  to  collect  the  militia  of  his  brigade, 
and  to  prevent  supplies  from  going  to  the  British  at 
Ninety-six  and  Augusta:  and  Colonel  Lee  with  his 
legion  and  part  of  the  second  Maryland  brigade,  was 
ordered  to  advance  before  the  continental  troops,  to 
co-operate  with  General  Marion.  General  Sumpter 
was  now  recovered  of  his  wound,  and  as  soon  as  he 
was  informed  that  Lord  Cornwallis  had  quitted  the 
state  in  pursuit  of  General  Greene,  he  collected  a 
body  of  men,  and  penetrated  into  the  heart  of  the 
country  to  encourage  the  friends  of  independence, 
and  early  in  February  he  crossed  the  Congaree-river 


273 

in  force,  and  appeared  before  Fort  Granbee,  and  de- 
stroyed all  their  stores.  Lord  Rawdon  immediately 
marched  from  Camden  for  the  relief  of  that  post 
upon  which  General  Sumpter  retired,  and  appeared 
before  another  British  post  near  Colonel  Thomson's ; 
and  the  second  day  after,  he  attacked  and  defeated  an 
escort  convoying  some  waggons  going  from  Charles- 
ton to  Camden  with  stores:  thirteen  of  the  British 
were  killed,  and  sixty-six  were  taken  prisoners:  the 
stores  were  sent  down  the  river  in  boats,  but  were 
retaken  on  their  passage.  General  Sumpter  with 
three  hundred  horse,  swam  across  Santee-river,  and 
marched  to  Fort  Watson  at  Wright's-bluft' ;  but  on 
being  informed  that  Lord  Rawdon  was  marching  to 
its  relief,  he  retired  to  Black-river,  and  on  his  return 
he  was  attacked  near  Camden  by  Major  Fraser  with 
a  considerable  force  of  regulars  and  militia,  who  he 
obliged  to  retreat  after  twenty  of  his  men  were  killed. 
GENERAL  Sumpter  hitherto  performed  all  his  emi- 
nent services  with  militia,  but  finding  them  so  uncer- 
tain a  body,  and  as  the  war  was  to  be  renewed  in  South 
Carolina,  it  was  thought  proper  to  have  a  more  per- 
manent body  ;  therefore  General  Sumpter  with  the  ap- 
probation of  General  Greene  raised  three  small  re- 
giments of  regular  state  troops  for  ten  months,  in 
March,  1781  ;  with  these  and  the  continental  troops, 
the  war  was  renewed  in  South  Carolina  with  great 
vigor  and  spirit,  and  more  regularity.  Colonel  Har- 


274 

den  with  his  friends  and  neighbors  from  about  Beau- 
fort, and  the  south  parts  of  Carolina,  and  Colonel 
Baker  from  Georgia,  with  some  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors,  about  seventy-six   in  all,  who  had  been 
with  General  Marion  on  the  north  side  of  Santee- 
river,  resolved  to  visit  their  settlements,  and  in  their 
way,  fell  in  with  about  twenty-five  of  the  royal  mi- 
litia  at  Four-holes,  whom  they  took  ;   the  privates 
were  paroled,  the  officers  were  carried  off  prisoners. 
Colonel    Harden  was   very  active  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  state  :  he  sent  parties  to  the  houses  of 
the  royal   militia  j  some   were   taken,  whilst  others 
fled  to  Charleston  ;    he  had   several  skirmishes  with 
the   British,    in  which   he  was  successful ;  he  took 
Fort  Balfour  at  Potataligo,    he   surrounded  it,  and 
persuaded  them  that  his  numbers  were  many  more 
than  they  really  were,  which  induced  Colonel  Fen- 
wick,  Lichmore    and   Rassal,  to  surrender  the  fort, 
with  thirty-two  regular  dragoons  and  fifty-six  militia- 
men, on  the  twelfth  of  April,   1781.     Colonel  Har- 
den's  friends  and  neighbors  were  extremely  glad  to 
see  him  with  a  body  of  Americans;    (hitherto  there 
had  been  none  but  British  parties  amongst  them) 
they  turned  out  cheerfully   and  joined ;  by  which, 
his  party  soon  became  very  formidable  :  he   carried 
on  the  partisan  war  as  Sumpter  and  Marion  did,  and 
was  very  troublesome  to  the  enemy. 

GENERAL  Greene  marched  with  the  main  body 


275 

of  his  army,  on  the  seventh  of  April,  from  Deep- 
river,  in  North  Carolina,  towards  Camden :  the 
British  were  a  good  deal  surprised,  when  they  were 
informed  that  Colonel  Lee  had  gone  through  the 
country  and  joined  General  Marion  near  Santee*  and 
that  General  Greene,  with  the  Americans,  had  en- 
camped on  the  nineteenth  of  April,  near  Camden. 

THE  British  had  established  a  line  of  forts  on  the 
banks  of  the  Santee  and  Congaree  rivers,  to  secure 
the  provisions,  and  render  their  communication  to 
Camden  more  safe  and  easy.  Fort  Watson,  at 
Wright's-bluff,  on  Santee,  was  closely  invested  on 
the  fifteenth  of  April,  1781,  by  eighty  militia,  and 
a  body  of  continentals  under  Colonel  Lee  :  the  fort 
was  built  on  an  Indian  mount ;  but  Colonel  May- 
ham  contrived  to  raise  another  within  shot,  much 
higher,  with  logs  and  rails,  filled  in  with  earth, 
which  he  raised,  so  that  they  could  look  down  into 
the  fort,  and  the  besieged  were  intirely  exposed  to 
the  fire  of  our  riflemen.  On  the  twenty- third,  the  gar- 
rison consisting  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  men, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  M'Kay,  surrendered  by 
capitulation.  The  American  army  of  about  seven 
hundred  continentals,  took  post  at  Hobkirk's  hill,  about 
one  mile  from  Camden,  which  lay  in  the  fork  of  Wa- 
teree-river  and  Wateree-creek ;  was  fortified  with  six 
redoubts  and  a  battery  defended  with  nine  hundred 
men  commanded  by  Lord  Rawdon,  who  ordered 


276 

every  man  in  garrison  that  could  carry  a  musket  to 
take  arms;  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  marched  out  to  at- 
tack General  Greene.  So  little  did  the  Americans 
expect  the  British  out  of  their  lines,  that  the  second 
in  command,  General  Huger,  told  me  that  they  had 
just  come  to  their  ground,  and  that  a  number  of  offi- 
cers with  himself  were  washing  their  feet,  and  a  num- 
ber of  soldiers  were  washing  their  kettles  in  a  small 
rivulet  that  run  by  their  camp,  when  their  picket  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  They  ran  to  camp  as  fast 
as  they  could,  and  the  British  was  soon  after  them, 
when  a  general  action  took  place,  and  it  would  pro- 
bably hare  been  a  serious  surprise  upon  General 
Greene,  had  it  not  been  for  Washington's  cavalry, 
which  were  saddled,  and  only  the  bits  of  their  bridles 
out  of  their  mouths ;  they  were  soon  got  ready,  and 
General  Greene  ordered  them  to  charge  the  enemy's 
right  flank,  which  they  did,  and  soon  got  in  their 
reaf;  this  threw  them  into  the  greatest  confusion, 
and  gave  General  Greene  time  to  make  a  good  re- 
treat to  Gun-swamp,  about  five  miles.  Colonel 
Washington  paroled  a  number  of  officers  upon  the 
field,  and  amongst  them  eleven  surgeons  who  were 
dressing  their  wounded.  General  Greene  immedi- 
ately sent  them  in  to  Lord  Rawdon,  (knowing  they 
would  be  wanted  for  the  wounded)  who  was  so  pleased 
with  General  Greene's  liberal  conduct,  that  he  im- 
mediately sent  to  the  commandant  in  Charleston  to 


allow  General  Moultrie  to  exchange  the  like  number 
of  his  medical  line,  such  as  he  pleased,  and  that  they 
should  be  conducted  to  any  American  post  that  he 
required. 

AT  one  time  Colonel  Washington  had  made  up- 
wards of  two  hundred  prisoners,  but  upon  the  Ame- 
rican army  retreating,  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
them  all  to  about  fifty,  which  he  brought  into  camp, 
and  lost  only  three  men.  This  gave  me  an  oppor- 
tunity of  exchanging  Doctor  Fayssoux,*  whom  I  had 
several  times  proposed  for  exchange,  but  was  always 
refused  :  they  did  not  like  him,  and  threw  every  ob- 
stacle in  the  way  of  his  exchange,  even  his  private 
debts,  although  he  told  them  he  left  a  great  deal 
more  in  their  hands  than  would  satisfy  them  all.  Their 
principal  dislike  to  Doctor  Fayssdux  was,  that  he  was 
too  faithful  to  his  friends,  and  wrote  and  spoke  too 
freely  of  his  enemies,  respecting  tkeir  conduct  in 
his  department ;  as  a  number  of  his  letters  to  Doc- 
tor Oliphant,  director-general  of  the  hospital,  shows* 
and  one  to  Doctor  Ramsay,  which  is  an  exact  state- 
ment of  their  conduct  in  our  hospital  at  that  time. 
[See  appendix,  note  28.] 

THJK  Americans  lost  in  this  affair  at  Hobkirk's, 
about  two  hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 


*  Doctor  Fayssoux  was  surgeon-general  in  the  hospital, 
VOL.  II.  2  if 


278 

THE  next  day  Colonel  Washington  went  down 
•with  fifty  men,  to  reconnoitre  the  British  lines ;  he 
showed  but  a  few  of  his  men,  and  kept  his  main  bo- 
dy concealed  in  the  bushes.  His  scheme  answered 
very  well;  his  intention  was  to  draw  out  their  cavalry. 
As  soon  as  they  saw  this  small  party,  Major  Coffin 
sallied  out  in  pursuit  of  them,  with  forty  Irish  vo- 
lunteers :  they  immediately  rode  off  and  drew  him 
into  an  ambuscade,  and  as  they  passed,  the  Ameri- 
cans rushed  out  from  the  bushes,  and  attacked  them 
in  the  rear,  and  killed  about  twenty  of  them. 

SOON  after  the  action  of  the  twenty-fifth,  General 
Greene  sent  off  a  detachment  to  reinforce  General 
Marion  near  Nelson's-ferry,  to  prevent  supplies  go- 
ing to  Camden,  from  Charleston  or  the  country  ; 
and  sent  parties  to  the  Wateree  to  take  a  position, 
to  prevent  supplies  going  in  from  that  quarter. 

ON  the  seventh  of  May,  1781,  Lord  Rawdon  re- 
ceived a  considerable  reinforcement,  by  the  arrival 
of  Colonel  Watson  with  his  detachment ;  and  en- 
deavored the  next  day  to  bring  General  Greene  to 
another  action,  but  that  could  not  be  effected.  Ge- 
neral Greene  knew  that  Lord  Rawdon  was  so  sur- 
rounded, that  he  could  not  get  supplies,  and  that 
he  must  soon  quit  Camden  ;  he  therefore  declined 
an  action  ;  and  Lord  Rawdon  knowing  his  situation 
was  growing  more  critical  every  day,  by  the  in- 
crease of  the  American  forces,  and  that  he  would  be 


279 

the  more  closely  invested,  determined  to  evacuate 
Camden,  and  retreat  to  Charleston;  and  on  the 
tenth,  he  burned  the  gaol,  mills,  and  many  private 
houses,  and  destroyed  a  great  part  of  his  baggage, 
and  retired  with  his  army  to  the  south  side  of  San- 
tee-river,  leaving  his  own  sick  and  wounded,  and 
as  many  Americans,  who  they  had  taken  on  the 
twenty  -fifth  of  April  :  by  which  movement  he  gave 
up  the  whole  of  South  Carolina,  that  was  on  the 
north  side  of  Santee,  Wateree  and  Congaree-rivers  ; 
a  large  extent  of  country.  Most  of  the  militia  with- 
in those  limits,  immediately  joined  General  Greene. 

LORD  Rawdon  invited  the  Tories  to  accompany 
him  to  Charleston,  and  promised  them  every  assist- 
ance in  his  power  ;  but  very  few  of  them  attended 
him :  the  greater  part  chose  to  stay,  and  trust  to 
the  mercy  of  their  countrymen  :  those  who  went 
down  with  the  British,  were  cruelly  neglected.  Af- 
ter their  Arrival  in  Charleston,  they  built  themselves 
huts  without  the  lines,  which  was  called  Rawdon- 
town :  many  of  these  unfortunate  women  and  chil- 
dren, who  lived  comfortable  at  their  own  homes  near 
Camden,  died  for  want,  in  those  miserable  huts. 

THIS  evacuation,  and  the  enemy's  posts  falling  in 
such  quick  succession,  and  the  British  falling  back 
to  the  low  country,  gave  great  spirits  to  all  Ameri- 
ca. The  day  after  Lord  Rawdon  left  Camden,  the 
post  at  Orangeburgh,  consisting  of  seventy  militia, 


280 

and  twelve   regular  troops  surrendered  to  General 
Sumpter.       After  the  surrender  of  Fort  Watson, 
General  Marion  and  Colonel  Lee  crossed  the  Santee, 
and  moved  up  to  Fort  Motte,  which  lies  about  the 
fork,   on  the  south   side  of  Congaree,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  eighth  of  May,  and  began  their  ap- 
proaches, which  were  carried  on  very  rapidly.    They 
informed  Mrs.  Motte,  that  they  were  afraid  that  they 
should  be  obliged   to  set  fire  to  her  house,  which 
stood  in  the  centre  of  the  fort :    she  begged  them 
that  they  would  not  consider  her  house  as  of  any 
consequence   in  the  general  cause  ;    and  with  great 
patriotism  and  firmness,   presented  them  \yith    an 
African  bow,  and  quiver  of  arrows,  and  requested 
they  would  burn  the  house  as  quick  as  they  could. 
With  the  arrows,    and  skewers  with  combustibles 
tied  to  them  fired  from  muskets,  they  soon  put  the 
house  in  a  blaze  ;  and  the  garrison  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  M'Pherson  immediately  surrendered  at 
discretion.     Mrs.  Motte  who  had  retired  to  a  house 
at  a  little   distance  from  her  own,  was  extremely 
rejoiced  at  seeing  the  garrison  surrender,    although 
at  the  expense  of  her  own  elegant  house. 

Two  days  after  this  surrender,  the  British  quitted 
their  post  at  Nelson's-ferry,  on  the  south  side  of 
San  tee-river,  about  sixty  miles  from  Charleston, 
blew  up  their  works  and  destroyed  a  great  part  of 
their  stores.  A  few  days  after,  Fort  Granby,  in 


281 

Granby,  on  Congaree-river,  (which  had  been  much 
harrassed  by  Colonel  Taylor's  regiment  of  militia) 
surrendered  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee.  The  gar- 
rison commanded  by  Major  Maxwell,  consisted  of 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  most  of  them 
militia :  in  all  these  different  forts,  the  Americans 
took  a  large  quantity  of  stores.  Lord  Rawdon  being 
on  the  south  side  of  Santee-river,  marched  immedi- 
ately to  the  relief  of  Fort  Granby,  but  after  marching 
fourteen  miles,  he  met  officers  of  that  garrison  on 
their  way  to  town  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  paroled  to 
Charleston  ;  upon  which,  he  returnedt 

GENERAL  Marion  with  his  brigade  of  militia, 
marched  to  Georgetown.  As  soon  as  he  begun  his 
approaches,  the  British  left  the  place,  and  retreated 
to  Charleston  by  water :  General  Marion  soon  after 
moved  off,  and  left  Georgetown  under  a  small  mili- 
tia guard ;  and  one  Manson,  an  inhabitant  of  the 
country,  came  with  an  armed  vessel,  and  demanded 
leave  for  his  men  to  land,  which  was  refused  :  he 
then  sent  some  on  shore,  under  the  cover  of  his 
guns,  and  set  fire  to  the  town,  and  burnt  forty-four 
houses  in  that  small  place. 

THE  British  had  now  lost  all  their  posts  in  the 
three  southern  states,  except  that  at  Ninety-six,  one 
at  Fort  Golphan,  and  one  at  Augusta,  in  Georgia. 
These  were  the  only  objects  General  Greene  had 
to  contend  against. 


MANY  people  from  the  upper  part  of  Georgia, 
crossed  Savannah-river  and  went  to  the  northern 
states,  and  some  over  the  mountains,  and  a  great 
number  of  Carolinians  and  Georgians  had  submitted 
to  the  British,  and  were  at  first  treated  kindly,  but 
they  were  called  upon  to  take  up  arms  against  their 
countrymen,  which  they  declined. 

COLONEL  Clark  returned  to  Georgia  at  the  head 
of  a  party,  in  September,  J  780,  and  laid  siege  to 
Augusta,  in  which  Colonel  Brown  commanded :  Lieu- 
tenant Cruger  marched  with  a  detachment  from  the 
garrison  of  Ninety-six,  to  relieve  Colonel  Brown, 
which  obliged  Colonel  Clark  to  retreat :  after  this, 
Colonel  Brown  treated  all  his  adherents,  and  those 
supposed  to  be  so,  with  the  utmost  severity  :  this 
ill  treatment  of  the  Americans  was  now  become  in- 
sufferable, and  parties  in  different  parts  of  the  back 
country,  were  arming  to  oppose  the  British  :  Cap- 
tain M'Koy  marched  with  a  large  body,  and  posted 
them  along  the  banks  of  Savannah-river,  and  fre- 
quently intercepted  boats  going  up  with  supplies 
for  the  British  :  upon  this,  Colonel  Brown  detached 
an  officer,  twenty-five  regulars  and  twenty  militia : 
Captain  M'Koy  attacked  them  at  Mathew's-bluff, 
killed  the  officer  and  fifteen  of  them  ;  the  remainder 
retreated  in  haste. 

AGREEABLY  to  General  Greene's  plan  at  Deep- 
river,  of  returning  to  South  Carolina,  General  Pic- 


283 

kens  and  Colonel  Clark,  with  a  body  of  militia,  had 
for  some  time  harrassed  the  British  about  Augusta. 

THE  day  after  the  surrender  of  Fort  Granby,  Co- 
lonel Lee  marched  with  his  legion  to  Augusta  :  the 
first  place  that  surrendered  to  a  detachment  of  his 
legion  under  Captain  Rudolph,  was  Fort  Golphan, 
with  seventy  men,  a  field-piece  and  valuable  stores. 
The  next  post  that  was  invested,  was  Fort  Corn- 
wallis  at  Augusta,  commanded  by  Colonel  Brown. 
Colonel  Grierson  who. occupied  an  out-work  that 
was  dependent,  relinquished  his  post,  and  endeavored 
to  throw  his  force  into  Fort  Cornwallis  :  thirty  of 
his  men  were  killed  and  many  more  taken  prisoners, 
but  himself  and  a  few  others  got  off  into  the  fort. 
The  approaches  were  carried  on  with  great  rapidity, 
and  Colonel  Brown,  an  active  officer,  defended  it 
with  great  bravery  :  several  batteries  were  erected, 
two  of  which  were  within  thirty  yards,  that  over- 
looked their  parapet,  and  the  riflemen  shot  into  the 
fort,  with  great  success,  and  every  man  that  attempt- 
ed to  fire  at  the  besiegers  was  immediately  shot 
down.  On  the  fifth  of  January,  1781,  the  garrison 
consisting  of  about  three  hundred  men,  capitulated 
after  making  a  gallant  defence. 

THE  Americans  lost  Major  Eaton,  and  about  forty 
killed  and  wounded.  Colonel  Grierson,  who  was 
very  obnoxious  to  the  Americans,  was  shot  down  by 
an  unknown  hand,  after  he  was  a  prisoner.  One 


284 

Hundred  guineas  reward  was  offered  to  any  person 
who  would  point  out  the  offender,  but  in  vain.  No 
doubt  Colonel  Brown  expected  the  same  fate  from  his 
vindictive  disposition  towards  the  Americans,  but  he 
was  furnished  with  a  guard,  although  he  had  hanged 
thirteen  American  prisoners,  and  others  he  gave  into 
the  hands  of  the  Indians  to  be  tortured.  On  his  way 
to  Savannah  he  passed  through  the  settlements  where 
he  had  burnt  a  number  of  houses,  and  hung  some  of 
the  relations  of  the  inhabitants.  At  Silver-bluff,  Mrs. 
M'Koy  obtained  leave  of  the  American  officer  who 
commanded  his  safeguard  to  speak  to  him,  when  she 
thus  addressed  him  :  «  Colonel  Brown,  in  the  late 

*  day  of  your  prosperity,  I  visited  your  camp,  and  on 

*  my  knees  supplicated  for  the  life  of  my  son,  but  you 
1  were  deaf  to  my  intreaties,  you  hanged  him,  though 
'  a  beardless  youth,  before  my  face.     These  eyes  have 
'  seen  him  scalped  by  the  savages  under  your  imme- 

<  diate  command,  and  for  no  better  reason  than  that 

*  his  name  was  M'Koy.     As  you  are  now  a  prisoner  to 

*  the  leaders  of  my  country,  for  the  present  I  lay  aside 
'  all  thoughts  of  revenge,  but  when  you  resume  your 

<  sword,  I  will  go  five  hundred  miles  to  demand  satis- 
4  faction  at  the  point  of  it,  for  the  murder  of  my  son.' 

WHILE  the  detachments  from  General  Greene's 
army  were  reducing  the  small  posts,  General  Greene 
proceeded  on  with  the  main  body  to  Ninety-six.  This 
was  a  post  of  ranch  consequence  to  the  British,  it 


285 

being  situated  in  the  middle  of  a  fertile  and  populous 
country  :  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  a  large  body  of 
regular  troops  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Cruger,  a  brave  and  gallant  officer.  The  garrison 
made  a  gallant  defence.  On  the  left  of  the  fort  was  a 
work  in  the  form  of  a  star  ;  on  the  right  was  a  strong 
stockade  fort,  and  two  block-houses  :  within  the  town, 
flanked  by  those  two  works  and  picquetted  all  around, 
and  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  a  high  bank.  There 
were  also  several  flushes  in  different  parts  of  the 
town  :  to  all  the  works  was  a  communication  by  co- 
vered ways. 

ON  the  twenty-third  of  May,  1781,  the  main  body 
of  the  American  army  encamped  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  British  post,  and  that  night  threw  up  two 
flushes  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  star- 
fort  ;  the  next  morning  the  enemy  made  a  sally,  and 
being  supported  by  the  artillery  and  musketry  from 
the  star-redoubt,  obliged  the  besiegers  to  retreat.  The 
next  night  two  strong  block-batteries  were  erected  at 
the  distance  of  about  three  hundred  yards,  which  were 
opened  in  the  morning :  soon  after  two  batteries  of 
twenty  feet  high  ;  one  within  two  hundred  yards,  and 
the  other  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  main  fort. 
Approaches  were  carried  on  at  the  same  time  on 
the  left,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Kozinsco,  a 
young  gentleman  of  distinction  from  Poland.  On 
the  fourteenth  of  May,  a  third  parallel  within  fifty 

VOL.  11.  2  o 


586 

yards  of  the  ditch  was  completed,  and  a  rifle-battery 
upwards  of  thirty  feet  high,  erected  at  the  same  dis- 
tance. On  the  seventeenth,  the  abbattis  were  turned, 
and  two  trenches  and  a  mine  were  within  six  feet 
of  the  ditch.  Great  perseverance  and  bravery  were 
exhibited  on  both  sides  ;  riflemen  were  employed, 
who  immediately  fired  at  any  person  that  appeared, 
and  seldom  missed  their  aim.  Many  severe  skir- 
mishes took  place  between  the  covering  parties  and 
those  from  the  garrison,  who  frequently  sallied  out, 
ON  the  third  of  June,  a  fleet  arrived  at  Charleston 
from  Ireland,  having  on  board  the  third,  nineteenth 
and  thirtieth  regiments  of  British  troops;  a  detach- 
ment of  guards,  and  a  great  number  of  recruits  ;  the 
whole  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Gould.  Lord 
Cornwallis  had  left  orders  to  detain  those  troops  in 
South  Carolina  if  they  should  be  wanted  :  according- 
ly, on  the  seventh  of  June,  1781,  Lord  Rawdon 
marched  from  Charleston  with  this  reinforcement 
for  the  relief  of  Ninety-six.  This  was  a  dreadful 
prospect  for  these  newly  raised  troops  arrived  from 
Europe,  immediately  from  on  board  ship,  who  had 
not  yet  recovered  the  use  of  their  legs,  heavy  armed 
and  thick  clad,  to  be  forced  to  undertake  a  march 
of  two  hundred  miles  at  this  inclement  season  of  the 
year  :  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  numbers  of  them 
must  have  been  left  behind  at  the  end  of  every  day's 
march.  They  had  been  amused  with  the  idea,  that 


287 

on  their  arrival  in  Carolina,  they  would  have  nothing 
to  do  but  sit  themselves  down  quietly,  on  some  of 
the  forfeited  estates  of  the  rebels. 

GENERAL  Greene  had  carried  his  works  so  near 
the  British  garrison,  as  almost  to  insure  success  ; 
and  the  moment  when  he  expected  them  to  surren* 
der,  intelligence  was  received  that  Lord  Rawdon 
was  near  at  hand  with  two  thousand  men.  The  wife 
of  a  British  officer  (an  American)  then  in  the  gar- 
rison of  Ninety-six,  received  a  large  bribe  to  convey 
a  letter  to  Colonel  Cruger,  to  inform  him  of  their 
near  approach,  which  she  did :  as  she  was  well 
known  to  all  the  American  officers,  she  rode  about 
their  camp,  unsuspected  of  any  ill  design,  and  her 
servant  with  her,  conversing  with  one  and  then 
with  another,  until  she  found  an  opportunity;  gave  a 
signal  to  the  fort,  it  is  said,  by  holding  up  a  let- 
ter, upon  which  a  man  was  sent  out  from  the  fort 
upon  horseback,  who  got  the  letter,  and  gallop- 
ed back  into  the  fort  with  it :  he  had  several  shot 
fired  at  him,  but  without  effect.  General  Greene 
attempted  to  retard  Lord  Rawdon's  march,  but  his 
men  were  too  few  to  carry  on  the  siege,  and  stop 
the  progress  of  the  British  troops  :  their  near  ap- 
proach obliged  General  Greene  to  raise  the  siege, 
or  attempt  to  carry  the  place  by  a  coup-de-main  ; 
which  last  was  agreed  upon,  and  a  disposition  made 
on  the  eighteenth  of  June.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee 


288 

with  the  infantry  of  his  legion,  and  Captain  Kirk- 
wood's  light-infantry,  made  the  attack  upon  the 
right :  Lieutenant  Colonel  Campbell,  with  the  first 
Maryland  and  first  Virginia  regiments,  were  to  have 
stormed  the  star-redoubt,  the  ditch  of  which  was 
eight  or  nine  feet  deep,  the  parapet  eleven  or  twelve 
feet  high,  and  raised  with  sand-bags  near  three  feet 
more.  The  forlorn  hopes  were  led  on  by  Lieute- 
nants Duval  and  Sheldon,  and  followed  by  a  party 
with  hooks  and  entrenching  tools,  to  pull  down  the 
sand-bags.  Had  this  been  effected,  the  besieged  could 
not  have  annoyed  the  assailants  without  exposing 
themselves  to  the  American  riflemen.  The  artillery 
soon  made  breaches  in  the  redoubt  on  the  right ;  it 
was  therefore  abandoned,  and  they  took  possession 
without  loss.  On  the  left,  great  exertions  of  resolu- 
tion and  bravery  were  displayed,  but  without  success. 
The  forlorn  hopes  entered  the  ditch  through  an  inces- 
sant fire,  and  made  every  effort  to  get  down  the  sand- 
bags. Both  of  the  officers  were  wounded,  and  there 
was  not  more  than  one  in  six  of  the  forlorn  hopes 
but  what  were  killed  or  wounded. 

LORD  Rawdon  by  his  rapid  marches  was  very  near 
to  Ninety-six  at  the  time  of  the  assault,  which  obliged 
General  Greene  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat  over 
the  Enoree.  Lord  Rawdon  pursued  General  Greene, 
but  finding  it  impossible  to  overtake  the  Americans, 
and  supposing  they  had  .got  to  North  Carolina  or 


289 

Virginia,  contented  himself  with  the  idea  of  having 
driven  him  quite  out  of  the  country.  The  arrival  of 
the  British  reinforcement,  and  the  retreat  from  Nine- 
ty-six, gave  reason  to  suppose  that  the  British  would 
re-establish  their  posts  which  they  lost  to  the  south- 
ward of  Santee.  The  destination  of  Lord  Cornwallis' 
army  having  been  known  for  some  time,  the  British 
commanders  in  South  Carolina  were  obliged  to  draw 
in  all  their  posts  within  the  limits  of  Santee,  Congaree 
and  Edisto  rivers,  and  to  confine  their  future  opera- 
tions within  those  bounds.  The  vicissitudes  in  war 
are  many,  and  it  is  the  part  of  a  good  general  to  know 
when  to  fight,  and  when  to  run  away.  See  Lord 
Rawdon  at  one  time  pursuing  General  Greene  with 
hasty  strides,  and  he  as  hastily  getting  off;  at  another 
time  when  Lord  Rawdon  divides  his  force,  General 
Greene  faces  about  and  offers  him  battle,  whilst  the 
other  retreats  as  precipitately  to  Orangeburgh,  and 
takes  a  strong  position  to  secure  himself  from  an  at- 
tack. 

WHILST  General  Greene  lay  near  Orangeburgh 
endeavoring  to  bring  Lord  Rawdon  to  an  action,  he 
got  intelligence  that  Colonel  Cruger  was  marching 
the  garrison  of  Ninety-six  to  join  Lord  Rawdon, 
which  in  his  situation  he  could  not  prevent;  he  there- 
fore retired  with  the  American  army  to  the  high  hills 
of  Santee. 

ON   the  post  of  Ninety- six  being  evacuated,  the 


290 


whole  of  the  upper  country  was  in  the  possession  of 
the  Americans,  except  a  few  of  their  small  panics 
moving  about,  that  often  fell  in  with  ours,  who  gene- 
rally routed  them,  and  made  many  prisoners.     Cap- 
tain Eggleston  with  a  part  of  Lee's  legion,  came  up 
with  forty-nine  British  horse,  and  took  forty-eight  of 
them.    Colonel  Lee  with  his  legion,  took  all  the  wag- 
gons and  horses  belonging  to  the  convoy  of  provisions. 
Colonel  Wade  Hampton  charged  and  routed  a  party 
of  British  near  Charleston  ;  he  also  took  fifty  prison- 
ers at  Strawberry,  and  burnt  four  vessels  loaded  with 
stores  for  the  British  army.     Generals  Sumpter  and 
Marion  appeared  before  the  camp  at  Biggen  Church, 
which  consisted  of  five  hundred  infantry,  and  one  hun- 
dred cavalry :  their  advance  fell  in  with  the  enemy's 
picquet,  had  a  small  skirmish,  and  were  obliged  to  re- 
tire :  in  the  evening  they  set  fire  to  the  church,  with 
all  their  stores,    and   retreated  over  Wadboo-bridge 
towards  Charleston.     Generals  Sumpter  and  Marion 
with  their  brigades,  Lee's  legion  and  Hampton's  state 
cavalry  pursued  them  closely.     The  cavalry  came  up 
with  them  near  Quinby-bridge,  and  took  their  rear- 
guard with  their  military  chest  and  all  their  baggage. 
Some  of  the  plank  of  the  bridge  being  taken  up,  re- 
tarded the  pursuit  a  little  :  however,  the  main  body 
came  up  with  them  at  Quinby  (Colonel  Shubrick's 
plantation)  where  they  had  possession  of  the  negro- 
houses  and  other  out-houses.    In  this  situation,  they 


291 

were  attacked  with  great  spirit,  till  upwards  of  fifty 
Americans  were  killed  and  wounded ;  and  finding  they 
could  not  dislodge  them  from  the  houses,  and  hearing 
that  a  reinforcement  was  coming  from  town,  via  Hob- 
caw,  they  then  ordered  a  retreat.  Captain  Arm- 
strong with  five  of  Lee's  legion,  rode  into  their  camp, 
while  the  officers  and  men  were  dispersed,  and  charged 
several  small  parties,  and  came  off  with  the  loss  of 
only  two  men. 

ABOUT  this  time,  every  thing  seemed  to  run  re- 
trograde with  the  British  :  they  were  very  much 
perplexed  and  embarrassed,  not  knowing  how  to 
conduct  their  affairs.  If  they  kept  their  forces  to- 
gether in  the  upper  country,  the  Americans  were 
sure  to  get  between  them  and  Charleston,  and  with 
small  parties,  surprise  and  take  their  supplies  going 
up  to  them  ;  and  if  they  divided  their  force,  they 
were  beat ;  and  the  people  that  went  over  to  them 
for  protection,  finding  they  could  not  be  protected, 
joined  the  Americans  again,  so  that  the  British 
interest  declined  daily.  Disconcerted  in  all  their 
schemes,  driven  from  all  their  posts,  in  despair 
and  vexation,  to  appease  their  wrath,  the  unfortu- 
nate Colonel  Hayne  was  executed  without  a  trial. 
At  the  time  that  Generals  Sumpter  and  Marion  were 
detached  down  the  country,  the  main  army  was  on 
the  high  hills  of  Santee,  and  the  British  returned 
to  the  fork  of  Congaree  and  Wateree.  In  this  situa- 


i 

292 

tion  the  two  armies  lay  within  fifteen  miles  of  each 
other,  with  a  rapid  river  between  them  :  they  knew 
that  no  sudden  attack  could  be  made  on  either  side, 
as  no  boats  were  to  be  had.  General  Greene,  whose 
martial  active  spirit  would  not  allow  him  to  remain 
idle,  formed  a  plan  to  drive  the  enemy  again  from 
their  post.  As  he  could  not  procure  boats  where  he 
was,  he  took  a  circuit  of  about  seventy  miles,  where 
boats  were  to  be  had,  and  where  the  river  was  fordable 
in  some  places.  Soon  after  he  had  crossed  the  river, 
he  was  joined  by  General  Pickens  with  a  body  of  the 
Ninety-six  militia,  and  by  the  state  troops  under  Co- 
lonel Henderson.  General  Marion  with  his  brigade 
had  been  to  Pon-pon,  to  support  Colonel  Harden  in 
opposing  the  British,  who  had  taken  post  near  Com- 
bahee-ferry,  and  had  issued  orders  to  the  inhabitants 
to  bring  their  rice  to  the  neighboring  landings,  that 
it  might  be  carried  to  Charleston.  Colonel  Harden 
exerted  himself  to  oppose  their  designs,  and  found 
it  necessary  to  call  in  some  other  militia  of  the 
state:  many  skirmishes  took  place,  in  which  the 
enemy  lost  a  number  of  men.  After  this,  General 
Marion  joined  General  Greene. 

THB  American  force  being  collected,  marched 
the  next  morning  to  attack  the  British  army  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Stewart.  The  British 
had  retired  from  Congaree  to  Eutaw,  about  forty  miles 
nearer  to  Charleston.  Tho  advance  of  the  Ameri- 


, 

293 


cans  fell  in  with  two  parties  of  the  British  who  were 
rooting  potatoes,  about  four  miles  from  their  main 
body  ;  they  were  charged  by  the  legion  of  state 
troops,  which  obliged  them  soon  to  retire.  It  was 
unfortunate  they  fell  in  with  these  parties,  other- 
wise their  main  body  would  have  been  completely 
surprised.  They  had  not  the  least  suspicion  of  Ge- 
neral Greene's  being  any  where  near  them:  they 
immediately  drew  up  their  men,  and  General  Greene 
drew  up  his  little  army  consisting  of  about  two  thou* 
sand  men,  in  two  lines.  The  first  consisted  of  the  North 
and  South  Carolina  militia,  commanded  by  Generals 
Marion  and  Pickens,  and  Colonel  Malmedy:  the  se- 
cond consisted  of  the  continental  troops  from  North 
Carolina,  Virginia  and  Maryland,  commanded  by- 
General  Sumner,  Colonel  Campbell  and  Colonel  Wil- 
liams. Colonel  Lee  with  his  legion  covered  the  right 
flank,  and  Colonel  Henderson  with  the  state  troops  on, 
the  left.  Colonel  Washington  with  his  cavalry,  and 
Captain  Kirkwood  with  the  Delaware  troops,  were 
formed  as  a  corps  of  reserve.  The  enemy  was  drawn, 
up  in  a  wood,  their  left  among  some  scrub-oak  trees. 
The  front  began  to  fire,  and  advance  upon  the  Bri- 
tish, till  the  action  became  general,  and  they  in  their 
turn  obliged  to  give  way.  They  were  well  supported 
by  General  Sumner's  brigade,  most  of  whom  were 
raw  troops,  composed  of  militia-men,  who  were  turned 

over  to  the  continental  service  for  their  precipitate 
vet.,  ii.  2  p 


flight  in  former  actions:  Colonel  Williams  and  Co- 
lonel Campbell  were  ordered  to  march  up  with  trailed 
arms,  and  charge.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  brave* 
ry  of  the  officers  and  men  on  this  occasion:  they 
marched  up  through  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  with 
such  intrepidity  as  obliged  the  enemy  to  fall  back. 
Colonel  Henderson  who  commanded  the  state  troops, 
was  wounded  early  in  the  action ;  the  command  then 
devolved  upon  Colonel  Wade  Hampton,  who  made  a 
very  spirited  charge,  in  which  he  took  upwards  of  one 
hundred  prisoners.  In  this  confusion,  Colonel  Wash- 
ington brought  up  the  corps  de  reserve,  and  charged 
so  briskly  on  the  left  as  gave  them  no  time  to  rally, 
and  upwards  of  five  hundred  were  made  prisoners. 
Colonel  Washington  charged  with  his  cavalry  in  a 
thick  scrub-oak  wood,  which  was  very  unfavorable 
for  the  horse:  the  British  reserved  their  fire  till  the 
cavalry  was  almost  upon  them.  When  they  gave  fire, 
Colonel  Washington's  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and 
he  fell  into  their  ranks.  He  received  a  wound  with 
a  bayonet,  and  would  have  been  killed,  but  was  saved 
by  a  British  officer,  and  made  prisoner.  Most  of  his 
officers  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  a  great 
many  of  his  men.  After  this,  the  enemy  retreated 
to  a  strong  brick-house  and  a  piquetted  garden  at 
Eutaw,  where  they  renewed  the  action.  Four  field- 
pieces  (six-pounders)  were  brought  up  to  fire  upon 
the  house,  from  whence  the  British  were  firing:  they 


295 

sallied  out  and  took  the  pieces.  The  Americans  re- 
tired out  of  the  reach  of  their  fire,  leaving  a  strong 
picquet  upon  the  field.  The  next  evening,  Colonel 
Stewart  destroyed  a  great  quantity  of  stores,  and  re- 
treated  towards  Charleston,  leaving  upwards  of  se- 
venty of  his  wounded,  and  a  thousand  stand  of  arras. 
They  were  pursued  several  miles,  but  could  not  be 
come  up  with.  About  fourteen  miles  below  Eutaw, 
they  were  joined  by  a  strong  detachment  under  Ma- 
jor M; Arthur;  however,  they  retreated  down  to  Wan- 
toot,  (Mr.  Ravenel's)  twenty  miles  below  Eutaw, 
where  they  encamped  some  time.  After  this  battle, 
the  British  were  so  alarmed  that  they  burnt  their 
stores  at  Dorchester,  and  the  gates  of  the  town  were 
shut.  A  number  of  negroes  were  employed  in  felling 
trees  across  the  road  on  Charleston-neck. 

THE  loss  of  the  British  at  Eutaw,  was  upwards 
of  eleven  hundred  men  :  the  Americans  lost  about 
five  hundred,  including  about  sixty  officers  :  Colo- 
nel Campbell  of  the  Virginia  line,  was  among  the 
slain,  universally  lamented. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Eutaw,  the  Americans  retired 
to  their  old  camp  on  the  high  hills  of  Santee. 

IN  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1782,  General 
Marion  was  encamped  with  his  militia  at  Wadboo, 
(a  place  belonging  to  Mr.  Colleton)  where  he  was  at- 
tacked by  Major  Eraser,  with  two  or  three  hundred 
dragoons:  Marion  got  notice  of  his  approach,  and 


posted  his  men  in  the  house  and  out-houses.  They 
came  to  the  charge  at  full  gallop,  and  were  received 
with  such  a  warm  fire  from  the  houses,  as  obliged 
them  to  retire  very  precipitately,  leaving  a  captain 
and  several  others  on  the  ground,  killed  and  wounded. 
SHORTLY  after,  Colonel  Maham  appeared  before 
the  post  at  Fairlawn  (Sir  John  Colleton's  place)  with 
a  small  party  of  cavalry,  took  upwards  of  eighty  pri- 
soners, and  burnt  the  house,  with  all  their  stores : 
and  although  the  British  were  greatly  superior  in 
force,  yet  they  dared  not  to  stir  out  of  their  works  to 
save  their  stores.  Colonel  Mayham  was  constrained 
to  burn  the  house,  because  his  men  were  making  too 
free  with  the  liquors. 

CONGRFSS  honored  General  Greene  for  his  con- 
duct in  the  action  at  Eutaw,  with  a  British  standard 
and  a  golden  medal.  [See  appendix,  note  29.] 

THE  latter  part  of  the  year  1781,  about  two  months 
after  the  battle  of  Eutaw,  General  Greene  moved  his 
army  into  the  lower  country,  to  secure  provisions  for 
his  army:  during  the  winter,  the  main  body  of  his  ar- 
my was  put  in  motion  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Williams. 

GENERAL  Greene  with  two  hundred  horse,  and  two 
hundred  infantry,  appeared  near  Dorchester.  The 
British,  believing  his  whole  army  was  near  at  hand, 
immediately  abandoned  their  post,  and  retired  to  the 
Quarter-house,  at  Charleston-neck.  General  Greene's 


297 

army  encamped  on  the  west  side  of  Ashley-river^ 
about  sixteen  miles  from  Charleston,  by  which  he 
secured  for  his  army  all  the  provisions  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  state,  except  the  sea-islands,  on  which 
the  enemy  had  collected  a  great  number  of  cattle. 
Very  little  of  military  operations  were  going  on  now, 
except  some  excursions  with  cavalry  and  infantry : 
one  was  made  in  February,  1782.  While  General 
Marion  was  attending  the  legislature  of  Jacksonbo- 
rough,  his  brigade  was  surprised  near  Santee,  by  a 
party  of  British  cavalry  commanded  by  Colonel 
Thomson,  in  which  Major  Benson,  Mr.  Broughton 
and  several  others  were  killed. 

ON  the  nineteenth  of  March,  1782,  Captain  Ru- 
dolph and  Lieutenant  Smith,  with  twelve  men,  took 
and  burned  a  British  galley,  in  Ashley-river,  which 
mounted  twelve  guns,  and  forty-three  men.  They 
disguised  themselves,  and  passed  for  negroes  going 
to  market  with  poultry :  they  were  allowed  to  come  so 
near  that  they  boarded  her  with  ease,  the  enemy  not 
suspecting  them.  Three  or  four  were  killed  ;  the 
rest  were  brought  off  prisoners. 

WHILE  the  American  army  lay  on  the  south  side 
of  Ashley-river,  the  greater  part  of  the  men  were  so 
completely  ragged,  that  their  clothes  would  scarcely 
cover  their  nakedness  :  every  little  piece  of  cloth  was 
taken  up  to  tie  about  their  waists ;  and  that  was  not 
the  worst  of  their  grievances  ;  the  want  of  provisions 


298 

was  severely  felt  by  them.  Sometimes  they  had 
meat  without  bread  or  rice,  sometimes  bread  and  rice 
without  meat,  and  sometimes  were  without  either. 
In  this  situation  did  they  continue  for  several  months, 
and  only  sixteen  miles  from  Charleston,  where  the 
British  army  was  in  garrison,  with  a  greatly  superior 
force  ;  fortunately,  Ashley-river  was  between  them . 
By  their  being  encamped  so  long  in  one  place  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  (July,  August,  September  and  Oc- 
tober) they  began  to  be  sickly,  discontented  and  mu- 
tinous. The  long  arrears  of  pay,  and  the  want  of 
provisions  and  clothing,  was  truly  distressing,  and 
very  hard  upon  this  brave  little  army,  who  had  been 
marching  and  counter-marching,  and  fighting,  almost 
the  whole  year  round,  that  now  they  came  to  have 
a  little  respite,  that  they  should  be  in  want  of  every 
necessary ;  but  it  could  not  be  otherwise  :  it  was  the 
unfortunate  situation  of  the  country  at  that  time, 
which  made  it  so.  It  is  not  surprising  that  these 
men  were  dissatisfied,  and  began  to  brood  mischief : 
a  few  of  them  had  formed  a  plan  to  deliver  General 
Greene,  their  beloved  commander,  into  the  hands 
of  the  British  ;  but  the  plot  was  discovered,  and 
prevented  from  being  carried  into  execution.  Only 
twelve  men  were  concerned  in  this  wicked  design, 
and  only  one  (sergeant)  executed. 

WHILE  General  Greene  lay  encamped  at  Ashley- 
river,  there  were  frequent  communications  between 


299 

Charleston  and  the  army.  Flags  were  passing  almost 
every  day  upon  public  or  private  business.  Governor 
Mathews,  by  assistance  of  Mr.  Joshua  Lockwood, 
got  out  a  quantity  of  clothing  and  other  necessaries 
for  the  army,  which  quieted  them,  and  restored  good 
order,  and  duty  was  cheerfully  performed  as  before. 
SOON  after  the  British  had  taken  possession  of 
Charleston,  Brigadier  General  Patterson  was  ap- 
pointed commandant  to  superintend  the  civil  affairs 
of  the  town  :  he  conducted  himself  with  politeness 
towards  the  prisoners  :  he  shortly  after  went  for 
New-York,  and  Lord  Cornwallis  nominated  Lieute- 
nant Colonel  Nisbet  Balfour  to  that  office,  with  very 
extensive  powers  in  all  civil  matters.  While  he  was 
commandant,  a  board  of  police  was  established  to 
determine  all  disputes  in  a  summary  way,  (but  under 
the  control  of  the  commandant,  James  Simpson,  Esq. 
intendant  of  the  board)  a  depreciation  table  was 
drawn  up,  ascertaining  the  value  of  the  paper  cur- 
rency at  different  times.  This  had  the  appearance  of 
justice  and  civil  authority ;  but  it  created  a  great 
deal  of  mischief  and  discontent ;  many  suits  were 
commenced,  and  great  numbers  ruined. 

THE  place  allotted  to  confine  their  prisoners,  was 
a  part  of  the  cellar  under  the  Exchange,  and  called 
the  Provost ;  a  damp,  unwholesome  place,  which  oc- 
casioned amongst  the  prisoners  much  sickness,  and 
some  deaths.  It  was  a  horrid  place  to  confine  citi- 


; 


300 

v 
t 
rtns  in.     They  had  no  respect  to  age  or  sex  :  they 

were  all  huddled  up  together  in  one  common  room  ; 
American  prisoners  of  war,  and  British  felons.  Two 
young  ladies  of  a  respectable  family,  were  confined 
among  the  other  prisoners,  for  several  days,  on  a 
groundless  suspicion  of  giving  intelligence  to  the 
Americans.  I  had  frequent  applications  from  the  un- 
fortuna^e  sufferers  in  the  Provost,  requesting  I  would 
interest  myself  in  their  behalf,  to  get  them  released 
from  that  loathsome  place:  in  some  of  my  applica- 
tions I  succeeded  ;  in  others  I  could  not.  The  un- 
fortunate citizens  of  Charleston,  who  would  not  take 
the  British  protection,  on  the  slightest  pretence 
were  hurried  away  to  the  Provost.  The  violent  and 
arbitrary  administration  of  Colonel  Balfour,  lessened 
the  British  party,  and  very  much  strengthened  the 
American  interest, 

THE  first  distinction  of  names  in  America  at  the 
commencement  of  the  revolution,  was  that  of  sub- 
scribers and  non-sabscribers ;  the  first  were  those 
who  signed  the  association  agreed  upon  by  Congress  ; 
the  latter  were  those,  who,  from  timidity,  or  attach- 
ment to  the  British  government,  refused  to  sign  ; 
they  were  but  very  few,  and  were  looked  upon  in  a 
very  odious  light;  their  former  friends  would  scarce- 
ly speak  to  them,  or  have  any  dealings  with  them  : 
these  distinctions  were  made  before  we  had  any  idea 
of  going  to  war. 


301 

THE  next  distinction  was,  of  a  more  serious  na-^ 
ture,  that  of  Whig  and  Tory.     This  was  after  the 
state  had  raised  troops  and  established  funds.     The 
Whigs  were  in  favor  of  America,  the  Tories  for  the 
British.    Those  in  favor  of  Congress  gave  certificates 
for  such  articles  as  they  were  obliged  to  impress 
from  their  friends,  which  was  paid  for  by  the  money 
then  in  circulation,  and  was  esteemed   at  first  as 
good  as  specie.     What  the  Tories  took,  was  looked 
upon  as  a  robbery,  because  they  had  no  funds  to 
draw   upon.     Each   party    oppressed  the   other   as 
much  as  they  possibly  could,  which  raised  their  in- 
veteracy to  so  great  a  height,  that  they  carried  on 
the  war  with  savage  cruelty :  although  they  had  been 
friends,  neighbors  and  brothers,  they  had  no  feelings 
for  each  other,  and  no  principles  of  humanity  left. 
When  the  British  party  prevailed,  after  the  surrender 
of  Charleston,  they  gave  full  scope  to  their  interested 
and  malicious  passions.     Some  of  the  most  aban- 
doned   characters   came    from   their  hiding  places, 
called  themselves  king's  men,  and  committed  the 
most  violent  acts  of  cruelty  and  injustice,  which  was 
sanctioned  by  the  British,  provided  they  called  them- 
selves friends  to   the  king,  and  the  outrages  were 
committed  on   such  as  were  called  rebels.     Many 
houses  were   burnt,   and    many    people    murdered* 
The  unfortunate  Whigs  were  obliged  with  their  fa- 
milies to  quit  their  homes,  and  lie  in  the  woods,  as 

VOL.  II.  2   Q_ 


302 

the  only  places  of  security.  I  will  here  give  one  or 
Uvo  instances  of  their  cruelties,  which  will  suffice 
for  the  whole. 

V/HEN  General  Greene  returned  to  South  Caro- 
lina in  the  spring  of  1781,  Major  William  Cunning- 
ham, of  the  British  militia,  came  out  of  Charleston 
with  a  party,  and  kept  bye-roads  and  private  paths' 
till  he  got  in  the  rear  of  the  American  army  undisco- 
vered into  the  district  of  Ninety-six.    The  many  acts 
of  cruelties  which  had  been  committed  by  the  Tories, 
induced  the  Whigs  to  associate  in  small  parties,  and 
to  arm  in  self-defence.     Captain  Turner  and  twenty 
men,  had  taken  post  in  a  house,  and  defended  them- 
selves till  their  ammunition  was  expended ;  they  then 
surrendered,  upon  a  promise  of  being  treated  as  pri- 
soners of  war;  notwithstanding,  they  were  instantly 
put  to  death,  by  Cunningham  and  his  party.     Soon 
after,  this  same  party  attacked  a  number  of  the  Ame- 
rican militia  commanded  by  Colonel  Hayes,  and  set 
fire  to  the  house  in  which  they  had  taken  shelter: 
they  were  reduced  to  the  sad  necessity  of  surrender- 
ing themselves  prisoners,  or  be  burnt.    Colonel  Hayes 
and  Captain  Daniel  Williams  were  immediately  hung 
upon  a  pole ;  this  breaking,   they   both  fell :   upon 
which,  Cunningham  cut  them  to  pieces  with  his  own 
hands,  and  continued  his  savage  barbarity  on  the 
others,  till  he  was  quite  exhausted ;  then  he  called  to 
bis  men  to  kill  which  of  them  they  pleased.     They 


303 

instantly  fell  to,  and  put  to  death  such  of  thein  as 
they  disliked.  Only  two  fell  in  the  action;  fourteen 
of  them  were  deliberately  put  to  death. 

WHEN  General  Greene  returned  to  South  Caro- 
lina, in  1782,  every  thing  was  reversed.  In  a  few 
weeks,  the  British  were  dispossessed  of  all  their 
posts  in  the  upper  country,  and  the  injured  and  ex- 
asperated Whigs  had  again  the  superiority.  On 
their  return  to  their  homes,  they  found  starving  fami- 
lies, and  desolate  places.  Sweet  revenge  comes  now 
to  reek  her  vengeance  on  those  infamous,  merciless? 
bloody  villains  that  had  gone  before.  The  Whigs 
began  to  plunder  and  to  murder. 

THE  conduct  of  those  two  parties  was  a  disgrace 
to  human  nature,  and  it  may  with  safety  be  said 
that  they  destroyed  more  property,  and  shed  more 
American  blood  than  the  whole  British  army. 

ABOUT  this  time,  Governor  Rutledge  returned  to 
South  Carolina,  and  exerted  himself  in  re-establish- 
ing good  government:  he  issued  his  proclamation, 
strictly  forbidding  all  violence.  [See  appendix,  note 
30.]  Magistrates  were  appointed  in  every  part  of 
the  state,  not  in  the  British  possession :  civil  go- 
vernment was  restored,  and  property  secured.  [See 
appendix,  note  31.]  A  few  weeks  after,  several 
hundreds  came  out  of  the  British  lines,  and  greatly 
reinforced  the  American  militia.  Many  made  their 
excuses  for  remaining  with  the  British,  on  account 


304 

of  the  situation  of  their  families :  others  who  took 
British  militia  commissions,  said  it  was  at  the  re- 
quest of  their  neighbors,  to  keep  them  from  having 
officers  put  over  them,  who  would  abuse  and  ill  treat 
them.  It  is  within  my  own  knowledge,  that  several 
gentlemen  took  militia  commissions,  to  protect  their 
friends  and  neighbors  from  insult.  Many  of  the  ci- 
tizens who  had  been  lately  exchanged  and  sent  to 
Philadelphia  and  Virginia,  and  some  who  had  been 
banished,  returned  to  South  Carolina  ;  among  them 
most  of  the  civil  officers  of  the  state,  and  members 
of  the  former  legislature :  and  the  American  army 
at  Jacksonborough  (a  little  village,  about  thirty-six 
miles  from  Charleston)  induced  Governor  Rutledge 
to  convene  a  new  legislature ;  accordingly,  he  issued 
his  writs  for  a  new  election,  which  was  Bordered  to 
be  held  at  the  usual  places,  where  it  was  practicable  ; 
and  in  other  cases,  as  near  as  safety  and  other  cir- 
cumstances would  permit.  All  those  who  had  taken 
British  protection,  were  excluded  from  voting,  or 
having  a  seat  in  the  legislature. 

A  GENERAL  assembly  was  chosen,  and  met  in 
January,  1782,  and  were  addressed  soon  after  their 
meeting,  by  Governor  Rutledge. 


305 


THE  SPEECH  OF  JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  ESO^.  GOVERNOR 
AND  COMMANDER  IN  CHIEF  Ot  THE  STATE  OF 
SOUTH  CAROLINA,  TO'THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 
MET  AT  JACKSONBOROUGH,  ON  FRIDAY,  18th  JANU- 
ARY, 1782. 

*  Honorable  Gentlemen  of  the  Senate, 

'  Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  House 

c  of  Representatives, 

4  SINCE  the  last  meeting  of  a  general  assembly,  • 
4  the  good  people  of  this  state  have  not  only  felt  the 
'  common  calamities  of  war,  but,  from  the  wanton 
4  and  savage  manner  in  which  it  has  been  prosecuted, 

*  they  have  experienced  such  severities  as  are  un- 
'  practised  and  will  scarcely  be  credited  by  civilized 

*  nations. 

*  THE  enemy,  unable  to  make  any  impression  on 
'  the  northern  states,  the  number  of  whose  inhabit- 
4  ants,  and  the  strength  of  whose  country,  had  baffled 
4  their  repeated  efforts,  turned  their  views  towards 

*  the  southern,  which,  a  difference  of  circumstances, 
4  afforded  some  expectation  of  conquering,  or  at  least 
4  of  greatly  distressing.     After  a  long  resistance,  the 
'  reduction  of  Charleston  was  effected,  by  the  vast  su- 
4  periority  of  force  with  which  it  had  been  besieged. 
4  The  loss  of  that  garrison,  as  it  consisted  of  the  con- 
4  tinentai  troops  of  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas,  and 
4  of  a  number  of  militia,    facilitated   the    enemy's 
'  march  into  the  country,  and  their  establishment  of 


206 

(  strong  posts  in  the  upper  and  interior  parts  of  it ; 
i  and  the  unfavorable  issue  of  the  action  near  Cam- 
1  den  induced  them  vainly  to  imagine,  that  no  other 
(  army  could  be  collected  which  they  might  not  ea- 
'  sily  defeat.  The  militia,  commanded  by  the  bri- 
'  gadiers  Sumpter  and  Marion,  whose  enterprising 

*  spirit  and  unremitted  perseverance  under  many  dif- 
1  ficulties  are  deserving  of  great  applause,  harrassed 

*  and  often  defeated  large  parties  ;  but  the  numbers 

<  of  those  militia  were  too  few  to  contend  effectually 
'  with  the  collected  strength  of  the  enemy.    Regarcl- 

*  less  therefore  of  the  sacred  ties  of  honor,  destitute 

<  of  the  feelings  of  humanity,  and  determined  to  ex- 

*  tinguish,  if  possible,  every  spark  of  freedom  in  this 

*  country,  they,  with  the  insolent  pride  of  conquerors, 

*  gave  unbounded  scope  to  the  exercise  of  their  ty- 

*  rannical  disposition,  infringed  their  public  engage- 
'  ments,  and  violated  the  most  solemn  capitulations. 

*  Many  of  our  worthiest  citizens  were,  without  cause, 

*  long  and  closely  confined.. .some  on  board  of  pri- 

*  son-ships,  and  others  in  the  town  and  castle  of  St. 
'  Augustine. ..their  properties  disposed  of  at  the  will 

*  and  caprice  of  the  enemy,  and  their  families  seiu 

*  to  a  different  and  distant  part  of  the  continent  wiilr 

*  out  the  means  of  support.     Many  who  had  stirrcn- 

*  dered  as  prisoners  of  war  were  killed  in  cool  blood.... 

*  several   suffered  death   in   the    most    ignominious 

*  manner,  and  others  were  delivered  up  to  savages 


307 

*  and  put  to  tortures   under   which   they   expired. 
«  Thus  the  lives,  liberties  and  properties  of  the  peo- 

*  pie  were  dependent  solely  on  the  pleasure  of  British 

*  officers,  who  deprived  them  of  either  or  all  on  the 
'  most  frivolous  pretences.     Indians,  slaves,  and  a 

*  desperate  banditti  of  the  most  profligate  characters, 

*  were  caressed  and  employed  by  the  enemy  to  exe- 

*  cute  their  infamous  purposes.      Devastation    and 
<  ruin  marked  their  progress  and  that  of  their  adhe- 

*  rents.. .nor  were  their  violences  restrained  by  the 

*  charms  or  influence  of  beauty  and  innocence. ..even 

*  the  fair  sex,  whom   it  is  the  duty  of  all,  and  the 
'  pleasure  and   pride  of  the  brave  to  protect...they, 

*  and  their  tender  offspring,  were  victims  to  the  in- 

*  veterate  malice  of  an  unrelenting  foe.    Neither  the 
1  tears  of  mothers,  nor  the  cries  of  infants,  could  ex- 

*  cite  in  their  breasts  pity  or  compassion.     Not  only 

*  the  peaceful  habitations  of  the  widow,  the  aged  and 
'  the  infirm,  but  the  holy  temples  of  the  Most  High 
'  were  consumed  in  flames,  kindled  by  their  sacrile- 
1  gious  hands.     They  have  tarnished  the  glory  of  the 
'  British  arms,  disgraced  the  profession  of  a  British 
(  soldier,  and  fixed  indelible  stigmas  of  rapine,  cru- 

*  city,  perfidy  and  profaneness  on  the  British  name. 
'  ...But  I   can  now  congratulate  you,  and  I  do  so 
{  most  cordially,  on  the  pleasing  change  of  affairs, 
<  which,    under  the  blessing  of  God,  the  wisdom, 
'  prudence,    address  and  bravery  of  the  great   and 


S08 

4  gallant  General   Greene,  and  the  intrepidity  of  the 
4  officers  arid  men  under  his  command,  has  been  hap- 

*  pily  effected.. .a  general  who  is  justly  entitled,  from 
'  his  many  signal  services,  to  honorable  and  singular 
4  marks  of  your  approbation  and  gratitude.    His  suc- 
<  cesses  have  been  more  rapid  and  complete  than  the 
'  most  sanguine  could  have  expected.     The  enemy, 

*  compelled  to  surrender  or  evacuate  every  post  which 
4  they  held   in  the  country,  frequently  defeated    and 
4  driven  from  place  to  place,  are  obliged  to  seek  re- 

*  fuge  under  the  walls  of  Charleston,  and  on  islands 
4  in  its  vicinity.     We  have  now  the  full  and  absolute 

*  possession  of  every  other  part  of  the  state  ;  and  the 
4  legislative,  executive   and  judicial   powers,  are   in 

*  the  free  exercise  of  their  respective  authorities. 

4  I  ALSO  most  heartily  congratulate  you  on  the  glo- 
'  rious  victory  obtained  by  the  combined  forces  of 
4  America  and  France  over  their  common  enemy. 
4  When  the  very  general  who  was  second  in  com- 
4  mand  at  the  reduction  of  Charleston,  and  to  whose 
4  boasted  prowess  and  highly  extolled  abilities  the 
4  conquest  of  no  less  than  three  states  had  been  ar. 
4  rogantly  committed,  was  speedily  compelled  to  ac- 

*  cept  of  the  same  mortifying  terms  which  had  been 
4  imposed  on  that  brave  but  unfortunate  garrison,  to 
4  surrender  an  army  of  many  thousand  regulars,  and 
4  to  abandon  his  wretched  followers,  whom  he  hud 
4  artfully  seduced  from  their  allegiance  by  specious 


309 

<  promises  of  protection,  which  he  could  never  have 

*  hoped  to  fulfil,  to  the  justice  or  mercy  of  their 

*  country  :...on  the  naval  superiority  established  by 

*  the  illustrious  ally  of  the  United  States...a  superi- 
«  ority  in  itself  so  decided,  and  in  its  consequences  so 

*  extensive,  as  must  inevitably  soon  oblige  the  enemy 

*  to  yield  to  us  the  only  post  which  they  occupy  in 
'  this  state:. ..on  the  reiterated  proofs  of  the  sincerest 
'  friendship,  and  on  the  great  support  which  America 

*  has  received  from  that  powerful  monarch...a  mo- 

*  narch  whose  magnanimity  is  universally  acknow- 

*  ledged  and  admired,  and  on  whose  royal  word  we 

*  may  confidently  rely  for  every  necessary  assistance  c 

*  ...on  the  perfect  harmony  which  subsists  between 
«  France  and  America...on  the  stability  which  her  in- 

*  dependence  has  acquired.. .and  on  the  certainty  that 
'  it  is  too  deeply  rooted  ever  to  be  shaken;  for,  ani- 

*  mated  as  they  are  by  national  honor,  and  united  by 

<  one  common  interest,  it  must  and  will  be  main- 
'  tained. 

«  WHAT  may  be  the  immediate  effects  on  the  Bri- 
1  tish  nation,  of  the  events  which  I  have  mentioned ; 

*  of  their  loss  of  territory  in  other  parts  of  the  world ; 

*  and  of  their  well-founded  apprehensions  from  the 

*  powers  of  France,  Spain  and  Holland,  it  is  impos- 

*  sible  to  foretel.     If  experience  can  teach  wisdom 
'  to  a  haughty  and  infatuated  people,  and  if  they  will 

'  now  be  governed  by  reason,  they  will  have  Jtearned 
VOL.  ii.  2  R 


310 

<  that  they  can  have  no  solid  ground  of  hope  to  con- 
4  quer  any  state  in  the  union  ;  for,  though  their  ar- 

*  mies  have  obtained  temporary  advantages  over  our 

*  troops,  yet  the  citizens  of  these  states,  firmly  re- 
'  solved  as  they  are  never  to  return  to  a  domination, 
4  which,  near  six  years  ago,  they  unanimously  and 
'  justly   renounced,    cannot   be    subdued. ..and   they 
'  must  now  be  convinced  that  it  is  the  height  of  folly 
i  and  madness  to  persist  in  so  ruinous  a  war.     If, 
6  however,  we  judge  as  we  ought  of  their  future  by 

*  their  past  conduct,  we  may  presume  that  they  will 

*  not  only  endeavour  to  keep  possession  of  our  capi- 

*  tal,  but  make  another  attempt,  howsoever  improba- 
'  ble  the  success  of  it  may  appear,  to  subjugate  this 

*  country  :...it  is  therefore  highly  incumbent  on  us  to 

*  use  our  most  strenuous  efforts  to  frustrate  so  fatal  a 

*  design.     And  I  earnestly  conjure  you  by  the  duty 

*  which  you  owe,  and  the  sacred  love  which  you  bear 
'  to  your  country ;  by  the  constant  remembrance  of 

*  her  bitter  sufferings  ;  and  by  the  just  detestation  of 

*  British  government,  which  you  and  your  posterity 

*  must  forever  possess,  to  exert  your  utmost  faculties 
'  for  that  purpose,  by  raising  and  equipping,  with  all 
4  possible  expedition,  a  respectable  permanent  force, 
4  and  by  making  ample  provision  for  their  comforta- 
4  ble  subsistence.     I  am  sensible  the  expense  will  be 

*  gi*.at,  but  a  measure  so  indispensable  to  the  pre- 
4  serva*:ion  of  our  freedom,  is  above  every  pecuniary 
1  considei^tion. 


311 

«  THE  organization  of  our  militia  is  likewise  a  sub- 
'  ject  of  infinite  importance.    A  clear  and  concise 

*  law,  by  which  the  burdens  of  service  will  be  equally 
'  sustained,  and  a  competent  number  of  men  brought 
4  forth,  and  kept  in  the  field  when  their  assistance 
'  may  be  required,  is  essential  to  our  security,  and 
'  therefore  justly  claims  your  immediate  and  serious 
«  attention.     Certain  it  is,  that  some  of  our  militia 
<  have,    upon  several  occasions,  exhibited  instances 

*  of  valor  which  would  have  reflected  honor  on  vete- 

*  ran  troops.    The  courage  and  conduct  of  the  gene- 
1  rals  whom  I  have  mentioned,  the  cool  and  deter- 

*  mined  bravery  repeatedly  displayed  by  Brigadier 

*  Pickens,  and  indeed  the  behavior  of  many  officers 

*  and  men  in  every  brigade,  are  unquestionable  testi- 
«  monies  of  the  truth  of  this  assertion  ;  but  such  be- 
'  havior  cannot  be  expected  from  militia  in  general, 

*  without  good  order  and  strict  discipline. ..nor  can 
1  that  order  and  discipline  be  established  but  by  a 

*  salutary  law  steadily  executed. 

*  ANOTHER  important  matter  for  your  deliberation, 

*  is  the  conduct  of  such  of  our  citizens  as  voluntarily 
i  avowing  their  allegiance,  and  even  glorying  in  their 

*  professions  of  loyalty  and  attachment  to  his  Britan- 

*  nic  majesty,  have  offered  their  congratulations  on 
'  the  success  of  his  arms,  prayed  to  be  embodied  as 

*  royal  militia,  accepted  commissions  in  his  service, 

*  and  endeavored  to  subvert  our  constitution  and  esta- 


a      312 

<  blish  his  power  in  its  stead...of  those  who  have  re- 

<  turned  to  this  state  in  defiance  of  a  law  by  which 
4  such  return  was  declared  to  be  a  capital  offence> 
'  and  have  abetted  the  British  interest. ..and  of  such 

<  whose  behaviour  has  been  so  reprehensible,  that 

*  justice  and  policy  forbid  their  free  re-admission  to 
'  the  rights  and  privileges  of  citizens. 

'  THE  extraordinary  lenity  of  this  state  has  been 
«  remarkably  conspicious :  other  states  have  thought 

<  it  just  and  expedient  to  appropriate  the  property  of 
«  British  subjects  to  the  public  use,  but  we  have  for- 

*  borne  to  take  even  the  profits  of  the  estates  of  our 
'  most  implacable  enemies.     It  is  with  you  to  deter- 

*  mine  whether  the  forfeiture  and  appropriation  of 

*  their  property  should  now  take  place.    If  such  shall 

*  be  your  determination,  though  many  of  our  firmest 
1  friends  have  been  reduced-  for  their  inflexible  attach- 
'  ment  to  the  cause  of  their  country,  from  opulence 

*  to  inconceivable  distress,  and,  if  the  enemy's  will 

*  and  power  had  prevailed,  would  have  been  doomed 

*  to  indigence  and  beggary,  yet  it  will  redound  to  the 
f  reputation  of  this  state  to  provide  a  becoming  sup- 

<  port  for  the  families  of  those  whom  you  may  deprive 

*  of  their  property. 

<  THE  value  of  paper  currency  became  of  late  so 
'  much  depreciated,  that  it  was  requisite,  under  the 

<  powers  vested  in  the  executive  during  the  recess  of 

*  the  general  assembly,  to  suspend  the  laws  by  which 


313 

c  it  was  made  a  tender.     You  will  now  consider  whe- 
4  ther  it  may  not  be  proper  to  repeal  those  laws,  and 

*  fix  some  equitable  mode  for  the  discharge  of  debts 
4  contracted  whilst  paper  money  was  in  circulation. 

*  IN  the  present  scarcity  of  specie  it  would  be  diffi- 

*  cult,  if  not  impracticable,  to  levy  a  tax  to  any  con- 
{  siderable  amount  towards  sinking  the  public  debt ; 
'  nor  will  the  creditors  of  the  state  expect  that  such  a 
'  tax  should,  at  this  time,  be  imposed ;  but  it  is  just 
«  and  reasonable,  that  all  unsettled  demands  should  be 

*  liquidated,  and  satisfactory  assurances  of  payment 
{  given  to  the  public  creditors. 

*  THE  interest  and  honor,  the  safety  and  happiness 

*  of  our  country,  depend  so  much  on  the  result  of 
«  your  deliberations,  that  I  flatter  myself  you  will 

*  proceed,  in  the  weighty  business  before  you,  with 

*  firmness  and  temper,  with  vigor,  unanimity  and  dis- 

*  patch. 

*  JOHN  RUTLEDGE.' 

To  this  speech  the  following  addresses  were  re- 
turned by  the  two  branches  of  legislature. 

*  THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE  HONORABLE   THE  SENATE   IN 

*  ANSWER    TO  THE   GOVERNOR'S  SPEECH. 

*  May  it  please  your  excellency, 

*  WE   beg  leave  to  return  your  excellency   the 

*  thanks  of  this  house  for  your  speech. 


314 

*  ANT  words  that  we  might  adopt  would  convey 

*  but  a  very  faint  idea  of  the  satisfaction  we  feel  on 

*  the  perfect  re-establishment  of  the  legislative,  exe- 

*  cutive  and  judicial  powers  in  this  state. 

*  IT  is  with  particular  pleasure,  that  we  take  the 
'  earliest  opportunity  to  present  to  your  excellency, 
'  our  unfeigned  thanks  for  your  unwearied  zeal  and 

*  attention  to  the  real  interest  of  this  country,  and 

*  to  testify  our  entire  approbation  of  the  good  conduct 
«  of  the  executive  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  gene- 
(  ral  assembly. 

4  WE  see  and  revere  the  goodness  of  Divine  Pro- 

*  vidence  in  frustrating  and  disappointing  the  attempts 

*  of  our  enemies  to  conquer  the  southern  states;  and, 

*  we  trust,  that,  by  the  blessing  of  the  same  Provi- 

*  dence,  on  the  valor  and  intrepidity  of  the  free  citi- 
c  zens  of  America,  their  attacks  and  enterprises  will 

*  continue  to  be  repelled  and  defeated. 

'  WE  reflect  with  pleasure  on  the  steady  resolution 

*  with  which  Charleston  was  defended  by  a  small 

*  body  of  brave  men  against  such  a  vast  superiority  of 

*  force,  and  we  gratefully  acknowledge  the  meritori- 

*  ous  conduct  and  important  services  of  the  officers 

*  and  privates  of  the  militia,  who  stood  forth  in  the 

*  hour  of  danger,  and  whose  coolness,  perseverance 
1  and  ardor,  under  a  complication  of  difficulties,  most 

*  justly  entitle  them  to  the  applause  of  their  country. 

*  WE  flatter  ourselves  that  the  blood  which  the 


315 

(  enemy  has  inhumanly  spilled,  the  wanton  devasta- 
'  tion  which  has  marked  their  progress,  and  the  ty- 

*  rannical  system  that  they  have  invariably  pursued, 

*  and  which  your  excellency  hath  so  justly  and  pa- 
4  thetically  described  to  us,  will  rouse  the  good  peo- 

*  pie  of  this  state,  and  will  animate  them  with  a  spirit 
«  to  protect  their  country,  to  save  their  rights  and  li- 

*  berties,  and  to  maintain,  at  all  hazards,  their  hide- 

*  pendency. 

'  IT  is  with  inexpressible  pleasure,  that  we  receive 
'  your  excellency's  congratulations  upon  the  great 

*  and  glorious  events  of  the  campaign,  on  the  happy 
{  change  of  affairs,  and  on  the  pleasing  prospect  be- 

*  fore  us  ;  and  we  assure  your  excellency,  that  we 

*  concur  most  sincerely  with  you,  in  acknowledging 

*  and  applauding  the  meritorious  zeal,  and  the  very 

*  important  services  which  have  been  rendered  to1 
'  this  state  by  the  great  and  gallant  General  Greene, 

<  and  the  brave  and  intrepid  officers  and  men  under 

<  his  command,  and  to  whom  we  shall  be  happy  to 

*  give  the  most  honorable  and  singular  testimonies 

*  of  our  approbation  and  applause. 

*  WE  are  truly  sensible  of  the  immense  advantage 

*  which  the  United  States  derive  from  the  magnani- 
'  mous  prince  their  ally  :  we  have  the  most  perfect 

*  confidence  on  his  royal  word,  and  on  the  sincerity 

*  of  his  friendship  ;  and  we  think  ourselves  much  in- 
«  deb  ted  to  that  illustrious  monarch  for  the  great  and 


316 

*  effectual  assistance  which  he  hath  been  pleased  to 
«  give  the  confederated  states,  and  by  whose  means 
« they  have  been  enabled  to  humble  the  pride  of  Bri- 

*  tain,  and  to  establish  their  independency  upon  the 

*  most  permanent  basis. 

«  THE  importance  of  the  several  matters  which 

*  your  excellency  hath  recommended  to  our  consider- 

*  ation  is  so  evident,  that  we  shall  proceed  to  delibe- 

*  rate  upon  them  with  all  possible  dispatch ;  and  we 

*  flatter  ourselves  that  our  business  will  be  carried  on 

*  with  temper,  firmness  and  unanimity. 

«  J.  L.  GEHVAIS,  President.' 

<  THE   ADDRESS  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF   REPRESENTATIVES 
'IN   ANSWER   TO  THE  GOVERNOR'S   SPKECH. 

«  WE,  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  state  of 

*  South  Carolina,  in  general  assembly   met,  return 
'  your  excellency  our  most  cordial  thanks  for    your 
4  very  interesting  speech  to  both  houses  at  the  open- 

*  ing  of  this  session,  the  language  of  which,  evident- 
'  ly  bespeaks  a  heart  glowing  with  ardent  zeal  for 
'  the  interest  arid  welfare  of  our  common  country. 

*  WK  want  words  to  express  our  heart-felt  exulta- 
4  tion  on   the   pleasing  reverse   in  our  affairs.     On 

*  this  spot,  but  a  few  months  past,  a  military  despo- 

*  tism  prevailed,  and  tyranny,  with  lawless  violence, 

*  was  desolating  our  fair  possessions  ;  but  we  now, 

*  with  ecstacy,  behold  a  free  government  re-establish- 


31? 

1  ed,  liberty,  that  greatest  of  temporal  blessings,  re- 

*  stored,  and  every  citizen  secured  in  the  possession 

*  of  his  property  by  the  firm  barrier  of  the  law  of  his 
'  country.     This  auspicious  change  is  in  a  great  de» 
'  gree  owing  to  the  prudence,  firmness  and  good  con- 

*  duct  of  your  excellency. 

'  IF  any  thing  can  add  to  the  sublime  and  refined 
'  enjoyment,  which  must  arise  from  your  excellen- 
'  cy's  own  reflections  on  your  persevering,  unabated 
'  and  successful  exertions  towards  rescuing  your  coun- 
« try  from  the  iron  hand  of  oppression,  be  pleased, 
'  sir,  to  accept  the  most  sincere  and  unfeigned  thanks 
1  of  your  grateful  fellow-citizens. 

*  THE  black  catalogue  which  your  excellency  has 

*  given  of  British  barbarities,  forms  but  a  small  part 

*  of  the  whole.     Whenever  the  historic  page  shall  be 
«  stained  with  their  story,  it  will  exhibit  a  nation  de- 

*  void  of  faith ;  with  whom  oaths,  treaties,   and  the 
'  most  solemn  compacts  were  considered  ^s  trifles  : 

*  who,  without  scruple  or  remorse,   had  abandoned 

*  all  regard  to   humanity,  honor,  justice  and   every 

*  ennobling  sentiment  of  the   human  breast.     It  is 

*  hardly  possible  to  conceive  any  circumstance  that 

*  could  aggravate  the  atrocious  wickedness  of  their 

*  conduct.    There  is  not  left  a  step  in  the  degrada- 

*  tion  of  national  character   to  which  they  can  now 

*  descend.     The   name   of  a  Briton  must  hencefor- 

'  ward  be  a  term  of  reproach  among  all  nations. 
VOL.  ii.  2  s 


318 

'  WE  should  betray  a  great  degree  of  insensibility, 

<  and  be  wanting  in  justice  to  his  merit,  should  we 

<  omit    this   occasion  of   acknowledging,    with  the 
1  warmest  gratitude,  our  obligations  to  the  great  and 

*  gallant  General    Greene.      His  achievements  in 

*  this  state,  while  they  rank  him  with  the   greatest 

*  commanders  of  ancient  or  modern  date,  will  en- 

*  grave  his  name  in  indelible  characters  on  the  heart 

*  of  every  friend  to  this  country.     Our  acknowledg- 

*  ments  are  also   due  to  all  the  brave  officers  and 

*  men  under  his  command,  who  have  so  often  fought, 

*  bled  and  conquered  for  us.     The  Generals  Sump- 

*  ter,  Marion  and  Pickens,    with  the  brave   militia 

*  under  their  commands,  those  virtuous  citizens  who 
'  did  not  despair  of  the  commonwealth  in  her  greatest 

*  extremity,  are  deserving  of  the  highest  commend- 

*  ation.     The   friendly,  seasonable  and  effectual  aid 
'  recently  afforded  us  by   our  great  and  illustrious 

*  ally,  by  means  of  which  the  General  on  whom  the 
1  British  nation  seemed  most  to  have  placed  their 
'  dependence,   has  been  compelled  to  surrender  the 

*  flower  of  the  British  army  to  our  immortal  com- 
'  mander  in  chief,  must  greatly  increase  the  flame 
c  of  gratitude  which  had  been  before  kindled  In  the 

*  breast  of  every  American,  and  which  it  will  not  be 
4  in  the  power  of  time  or  accident  to   extinguish. 
«  We  perfectly  concur  in  sentiment  with  your  excel- 

*  lency,  that,  from  our  connection  with  this  powerful 


319 

*  and  wise   monarch,   we  may  expect,   with   well. 
«  grounded  confidence,  that  our  independence  will  be 
«  shortly  established  upon  an  immoveable  basis,  nor 

*  need  we  harbor  a  single  fear  of  its  dissolution. 

*  AN  union  which  originated  from  such  liberal  and 
4  generous  motives,  and  which  is  founded  on  mutual 
'  interest,  that  best  cement  of  nations,  must  and  will 

*  continue.     Whether  the  series  of  losses,  disasters 

*  and  defeats  of  the  year  past,  will  at  length  recover 

*  Britain  from  her  delirium,  time  only  can  disclose  ; 
'  but  as  misfortune  hitherto,  instead  of  producing  re- 
» flection  and  prudence,  has  operated  to  increase  her 

*  insanity,  we  agree  in  opinion  with  your  excellency, 
1  that  it  is  probable  she  will  not  only  endeavor  to  keep 

*  possession  of  our  capital,  but  make  another  attempt 

*  to  subjugate  the  country. ..we  shall  therefore  imme- 
4  diately  enter  upon  the  prosecution  of  the  measures 

*  recommended  by  your  excellency,  as  necessary  for 

*  its  safety;  and  being  fully  sensible  how  much  de- 

*  pends  upon  ths  result  of  our  deliberations,  we  will 

*  endeavor  to  proceed  in  the  weighty  business  with 
'  firmness  and  temper,  with  vigor,  unanimity  and  dis- 

«  patch, 

«  By  order  of  the  house, 

*  HUGH  RUTLEDGE,  Speaker.' 

ON  the  execution  of  Colonel  Hayne,  the  regular 
officers  of  the  continental  army  petitioned  General 


330 

Greene  that  he  \rould  retaliate  on  the  British  officers. 
[See  appendix,  note  32,  33.] 

THK  British  emissaries  had  induced  the  Cherokee 
Indians  to  commence  hostilities  against  the  Ameri- 
cans. They,  with  a  number  of  white  men  disguised, 
made  an  incursion  into  the  district  of  Ninety-six, 
murdered  some  families,  and  burnt  some  houses. 
General  Pickens  collected  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  men,  and  marched  into  the  Cherokee  country, 
burnt  thirteen  towns,  killed  upwards  of  forty  Indians, 
and  took  a  great  number  of  Indians  prisoners,  and 
returned  in  fourteen  days ;  not  one  of  his  party  killed, 
and  only  three  wounded.  This  was  the  second  time, 
during  the  American  war,  that  the  Cherokees  had 
been  chastised  in  their  own  settlements,  and  again 
sued  for  peace,  which  they  obtained  upon  a  promise 
not  to  listen  to  the  British  emissaries,  and  to  deliver 
up  all  who  endeavored  to  instigate  them  to  war 
against  the  Americans. 

IT  now  became  necessary,  agreeably  to  the  con- 
stitution, to  choose  a  new  governor;  when  the  honor- 
able Christopher  Gadsden  was  chosen  governor,  who 
delivered  a  short  speech,  which  he  concluded  as  fol- 
lows :  '  The  present  times  require  the  vigor  and  ac- 
«  tivity  of  the  prime  of  life,  but  1  feel  the  increasing 
*  infirmities  of  old  age  to  such  a  degree,  that  I  am 
4  conscious  I  cannot  serve  you  to  advantage :  I  there- 
'  fore  beg,  for  your  sakes,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  pub- 


'    .  I  32 1 

4  lie,  that  you  will  indulge  me  with  the  liberty  of  de- 
1  dining  the  arduous  trust.'  He  was  indulged  in  his 
request.  Then  the  general  assembly  elected  the  ho- 
norable John  Mathews  governor :  he  filled  up  all  va- 
cancies in  the  civil  departments,  and  re-established  civil 
government  in  all  its  branches.  They  also  delegated 
to  the  governor  the  same  extensive  powers  with  simi- 
lar limitations,  which  they  had  entrusted  to  his  pre- 
decessor, *  of  doing  all  matters  and  things  which  were 
'  judged  expedient  and  necessary,  to  secure  the  li- 
4  berty,  safety  and  happiness  of  the  state.' 

THE  legislature  then  proceeded  to  business.  Laws 
were  passed  for  confiscating  the  estates  and  banishing 
certain  persons  mentioned  therein  ;  and  for  amercing 
the  estates  of  others,  as  a  substitution  for  the  per- 
sonal services  of  which  their  country  had  been  de- 
prived. The  reasons  that  induced  the  assembly  to 
adopt  the  measures  of  confiscation,  &c.  were  stated 
by  themselves  in  the  preamble  to  the  act,  which  is  in 
the  words  following  :  '  Whereas  the  thirteen  British 
'colonies,  now  the  United  States  of  America,  were, 

*  by  an  act  of  the  parliament  of  Great  Britain,  passed 

*  in  or  about  the  month  of  December,  in  the  year  of 

*  our  Lord  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 

*  five,  declared  to  be  in  rebellion,  and  out  of  the  pro- 

*  tection  of  the  British  crown  ;  and  by  the  said  act 
'  not  only  the  property  of  the  colonists  was  declared 

*  subject  to  seizure  and  condemnation,    but  clivers 


322 

(  seizures  and  destruction  of  their  property  having 

*  been  made  after  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  anno 
'  Domini  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  seventy - 

*  five  ;  and  before  the  passing  of  the  said  act,  such 
1  seizures  and  destruction  were  by  the  said  act  de. 
'  clared  to  be  lawful :  and,  whereas  the  good  people 

<  of  these  states  having  not  only  suffered  great  losses 

*  and  damages  by  captures  of  their   property  on  the 
'  sea  by  the  subjects  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  but  by 
'  their  seizing  and  carrying  off  much  property  taken 

*  on  the  land  :  in  consequence  of  such  proceedings 
4  of  the  British  crown,    and  those  acting  under  its 

<  authority,  the  honorable  Congress  of  the  United 
1  States,    after  due   and   mature   consideration,    au- 
'  thorized  the  seizing  and  condemnation  of  all  pro- 

*  perty  found  on  the  sea,  and  belonging  to  the  sub- 

*  jects  of  Great  Britain,  and  recommended  to  the  se- 
'  veral  states  in  which  such  subjects  had  property,  to 

*  confiscate  the  same  for  the  public  use  ;  all  political 

*  connection  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
'  States  having  been  dissolved  by  the   separation  of 

*  these  states  from  that  kingdom,  and  their  dcclar- 

*  ing  themselves   free  and  independent  of  her  :    in 
'  pursuance  of  which  recommendation,  most,  if  not 
'  all,  have  disposed  of  such  property  for  the  public 
'  use.    And,  whereas,  notwithstanding  this  state  has 

*  forborne  even  to  sequester  the  profits  arising  from 
'  Ihe  estates  of  British  subjects,  the  enemy,  in  viola- 


323 

'  tion  of  the  most  solemn  capitulations  and  public 

*  engagements,  by  which  the  property  of  individuals 

*  was  secured  to  them,  seized  upon,  sequestered  and 
1  applied  to  their  own  use,  not  only  in  several  instances, 
'  the  profits  of  the  estates,  but  in  other  instances 
4  the  estates  themselves  of  the  good  citizens  of  this 
'  state,  and  have  committed   the   most  wanton  and 

*  wilful  waste  of  property  both  real  and  personal,  to 
'  a  very  considerable  amount. 

'  AND  whereas  from  a  proclamation  of  Sir  Henry 
«  Clinton,  declaring,  that  if  any  person  should  ap- 
4  pear  in  arms  in  order  to  prevent  the  establishment 

*  of  his  Britannic  majesty's  government  in  this  coun- 

*  try,  such  persons  should  be  treated  with  the  utmost 
4  severity,  and  their  estates  be  immediately  seized  in 
1  order  to  be  confiscated  :  and  whereas,  from  a  letter 
'  of  Lord  Rawdon  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rugely,  de- 

*  claring,  that  every  militia-man  who  did  not  use  his 
'.utmost   endeavors  to  apprehend  deserters,  should 

*  be  punished  in  such  manner  as  his  lordship  should 
«  think  adequate  to   such  offence,  by  whipping,  im- 
'  prisonment,  or  being   sent  to   serve  his  Britannic 
«  majesty  in  the  West-Indies.     From  Earl  Cornwal- 
<  lis'   letter  to   Lieutenant  Colonel  Cruger,  bearing 
«  date  the   eighteenth  of   August,   1780,    declaring 
1  that  he  had  given  orders  that  all   the  inhabitants 
4  who  had  submitted,  and  who  had  taken  part  with 

*  their  countrymen  in  the  first  action  near  Camden, 


324, 

1  although  such  submission  was  an  act  of  force  or 

*  necessity,  should  be  punished  with  the  greatest  ri- 

<  gor...that   they  should   be   imprisoned,    and  their 
'  whole  property  taken  from  them  or  destroyed... and 

<  that  he  had  ordered,  in  the  most  positive  manner, 
4  that  every  militia-man  who  had  borne  arms  on  the 
1  part  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  who  had  after- 
4  wards  joined  his  fellow-citizens,  although  he   had 
4  been    compelled  to    take   up   arms    against  them, 

*  should  be  immediately  hanged  ;  and  ordering  the 
i  said  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cruger  to  obey  these  di- 
4  rections  in  the  district  in  which  he  commanded,  in 

*  the  strictest  manner.    And,  from  the  general  tenor 
'  of  the  enemy's  conduct  in  their  wilful  and  wanton 
'  waste  and  destruction  of  property  as  aforesaid,  com- 
4  mitting  to  a  cruel  imprisonment,  and  even  hang- 
'  ing,  and  otherwise  putting  to  death  in  cold  blood 

*  and  an  ignominious  manner,  many  good  citizens 
1  who  had  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war,  it  is  evi- 
4  dent  that  it  was  the  fixed  determination  of  the  ene- 
4  my,  notwithstanding  their  professions  to  the  con- 
4  trary,  to  treat  this  state  as  a  conquered  country; 
4  and  that  the  inhabitants  were  to  expect  the  utmost 
4  severities,  and  to  hold  their  lives,  liberties  and  pro- 
4  perties,  solely  at  the  will  of  his  Britannic  majesty's 
4  officers. 

4  AND  it  is  therefore  inconsistent  with  public  jus- 
k  i  ire  and  policy  to  afford  protection  any  longer  to 


«  the  property  of  British  subjects,  and  just  and  rea* 
*  sonable  to  apply  the  same  towards  alleviating  and 
«  lessening  the  burdens  and  expenses  of  the  war,  which 
«  must  otherwise  fall  very  heavy  on  the  distressed 
« inhabitants  of  this  state ;  Be  it  therefore  enacted'..* 

THE  Jacksonborough  assembly  was  much  censur- 
ed by  some,  and  thought  to  have  been  very  severe 
and  cruel  to  their  fellow-citizens,  in  passing  the  con- 
fiscation, banishment  and  the  amercement  laws :  but 
when  it  comes  to  be  considered,  the  very  men  who 
composed  that  legislature  were  yet  in  the  field,  and 
many  of  them  had  been  fighting  during  the  whole 
war ;  and  some  of  them  perhaps  with  their  wounds 
still  bleeding  ;  and  others  just  returned  from  capti- 
vity and  banishment,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at, 
that  they  should  be  in  an  ill  humor,  and  displeased 
with  their  countrymen,  who  had  entered  into  a  so- 
lemn compact  with  them,  to  support  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  their  country  ;  and  that  they  should  be  at 
that  very  time  within  the  British  lines,  under  their 
protection,  and  some  of  them  with  British  commis- 
sions in  their  pockets.  The  taking  protection,  and 
remaining  quiet,  was  no  great  offence  ;  it  was  una- 
voidable with  many.  I  advised  several  of  my  friends, 
after  the  fall  of  Charleston  (who  were  not  in  the  con- 
tinental army)  to  take  that  step,  and  to  stay  with 
their  families,  till  we  could  come  in  force  to  release 

VOL.  II.  2  T 


526 

them :  but  to  take  protection,  then  a  commission, 
and  then  to  treat  their  countrymen  worse  and  with 
more  rigor  than  enemies  themselves,  was  unpardona- 
ble; but  for  the  honor  of  the  Jacksonborough  assem- 
bly, the  most  of  those  very  men  were  members  at 
the  first  meeting  of  the  general  assembly  which  met 
in  Charleston  after  the  evacuation.  When  they  had 
got  possession  of  their  country  again,  and  peace  was 
restored,  they  were  softened  with  pity,  and  had  com- 
passion for  their  fellow- citizens,  and  listened  with 
cheerfulness  to  the  prayer  of  their  petitions.  I  had 
the  honor  of  being  appointed  chairman. to  a  large 
committee  from  the  senate,  to  meet  a  very  large 
committee  from  the  house  of  representatives,  to  hear 
the  merits  of  their  several  petitions ;  and  after  sitting 
several  weeks  and  giving  every  one  a  fair  and  im- 
partial hearing,  a  report  was  made  to  the  separate 
houses  in  favor  of  a  great  majority ;  and  a  great  part 
of  those  names  which  were  upon  the  confiscation,  ba- 
nishment and  amercement  lists,  were  struck  off; 
and  after  a  few  years,  on  their  presenting  their  pe- 
titions year  after  year,  almost  the  whole  of  them  had 
their  estates  restored  to  them,  and  themselves  re- 
ceived as  fellow-citizens. 

ABOUT  the  middle  of  January,  1782,  General 
Greene  took  post  with  the  American  army  below 
Jacksonborough,  and  in  April  moved  down  to  Beach- 
hill,  near  Bacon-bridge,  where  he  remained  till  the 
seventh  of  July,  when  he  came  down  and  took  post 


32f 

at  Ashley-river,  about  sixteen  miles  from  Charleston : 
on  the  fourth  of  April  he  received  the  following  let- 
ter from  General  Leslie : 

*  HEAD-QUARTERS,  April  4th,  1782. 
«  SIR, 

*  IT  was  with  deep  concern  I  viewed,  in  the  pro- 
<  ceedings  of  your  last  assembly,  acts  for  amercing 
'  the  property  of  some  persons,  and  confiscating  that 
«  of  others,  whose  principles  had  attached  them  to 
1  the  cause  of  their  sovereign.  Yet,  alarming  as  the 
1  public  resolutions  appeared,  I  was  in  hopes  hu- 

*  manity,    as   well  as  policy,    would  have   arrested 
{ their  execution,  and  that  I  should  not  have  been 

*  compelled  to  take  measures  for  their  counteraction, 
{ injurious  to  the  country,    and  therefore  painful  to 
'  me.    But  when  these  hopes  were  disappointed,  and 
{  I  found  the  effects  of  the  loyal  and  well-affected  re- 
1  moved  from  their  estates,  and  carried  to  parts  far 
t  distant  from  them,  I  could  no  longer  remain  the 

*  quiet  spectator  of  their  distresses ;  but,  in  order  to 
f  induce  a  juster  line  of  conduct,  I  have  employed  a 

*  part  of  the  force  intrusted  to  my  charge  for  their 
'  protection,  in  seizing  the  negroes  of  your  friends, 
'  that  restitution  may  be  thereby  made  to  such   of 

*  ours  as  may  suffer  under  these  oppressive  and  ruin- 
1  ous  resolutions.     This,  sir,  was  the  object  of  the 
« late  excursion  towards  Santee,  and  these  principles 


328 

rill  greatly  mark  the  future  operations  of  this  army, 
«  unless  a  relinquishment  of  this  assumed  right  on 
«  your  part  should  justify  less  destructive  measures 

*  on  mine. 

<  To  point  out  to  you,  or  the  world,  the  distinction 
<  between  temporary  sequestration  and  actual  confis- 

*  cation,   would  be  impertinent ;  but  it  will  by  no 

*  means  be  so  to  observe  on  the   opposite  conduct 
1  pursued  by  each  party  in  carrying  into  execution 

*  these  very  different  measures  ;  for  whilst  you  have 

*  endeavored  to  involve,    in  perpetual  ruin,  the  per- 
1  sons  and  estates  of  those  who  have  differed  from 

*  you  in  political  sentiments,  I  can  safely  appeal  even 

*  to  those  whose  violent  opposition  to  the  king's  go- 
'  vcrnment  compelled  the  with-holding  from  them 

*  for  a  time  their  possessions  in  this  province,  for  the 

*  great  attention  which  has  been  invariably  paid  to 
'  their  property... the  connected  state  in  which  it  has 

*  been  preserved... and  the  liberal  allowances  that  were 

*  made  to  their  families,  insomuch,  that,  while  other 

*  estates  were  running  to  waste  by  the  distractions  of 
1  the  country,  these  have  greatly  thriven  at  the  ex- 

*  pense  of  government. 

*  THUS  far  I  have  deemed  it  necessary  to  urge  the 
'  motives  of  humanity,  policy  and  example,  for  your 

*  suspension  of  such  rigorous  procedures ;  and  should 

*  you  think  a  meeting  of  commissioners  on  each  side 

*  might  tend  to  lessen  the  devastations  of  war,  and 


329 

<  secure  inviolate  the  property  of  individuals,  I  shall 

*  have  a  peculiar  happiness  in  embracing  proposals 

*  that  may  accomplish  such  benevolent  purposes  ; 

*  but,  if,  notwithstanding  this  earnest  representation, 

*  you  should  still  persevere  in  executing  these  acts 
«  of  your  assembly,  I  trust  this  letter  will  hold  me 
« justifiable  to  the  world  for  any  measures  which 

*  necessity  may  adopt  in  counteraction  of  steps  unjust 
1  in  their  principles  and  personally  distressful  in  their 
(  consequences ;  and  that,  whilst  I  only  endeavor  to 
'  secure  to  those,  who  with  respectable  steadiness 

*  have  attached  themselves  to  our  cause,  the  full  pos- 
«  session  of  their  effects,  or,  in  case  of  losses,  to  pro- 
'  vide  an  equitable  restitution  for  them,  I  shall  be 
4  clearly  exculpated  from  all  the  horrors  and  calami- 

*  ties  which  the  road  you  now  point  out  unavoidably 
'  leads  to. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
'  your  most  obedient 

4  and  most  humble  servant, 
(Signed)  <  ALEX.  LESLIE. 

«  To  Major  General  GREENE.' 

To  this  letter  General  Greene  returned  an  imme- 
diate answer,  '  that  he  had  the  honor  to  command 
«  the  forces  of  the  United  States  in  the  southern  de- 
'  partment,  but  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  iniernal 

*  police  of  any  state.'    On  which  Lieutenant  General 


330 

Leslie  addressed  himself  to  Governor  Mathews,  and 
inclosed  the  letter  which  had  been  addressed  to  Ge- 
neral Greene,  to  which  Governor  Mathews  gave  the 
following  answer : 

«  April  12th,  1782. 
«  Sia, 

*  I  HAD  the  honor  of  receiving  your  letter  of  the 

*  eighth  instant,  inclosing  one  from  you  to  Major  Ge- 

*  neral  Greene  of  the  fourth,  and  his  answer  to  you 
'  of  the  same  date. 

*  THK.  manner  in  which  you  refer  to  your  letter  to 
'  General  Greene,  obliges  me  to  view  that  letter  as 
<  now  addressed  to  me.     I  must  therefore  beg  leave 

*  to  observe  upon  it,  previous  to  answering  the  one 

*  immediately  addressed  to  me. 

*  YOUR  remaining  so  short  a  time  in  this  state,  af- 
c  ter  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  and  not  returning 
'  to  it  till  most  of  the  sequestered  estates  had  been 

*  rescued  from  the  hands  of  your  sequestrator,  has 

*  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  speak  of  the  manage- 
1  ment  of  them  in  this  country  from  your  own  know- 

*  ledge,  consequently  what  has  been  said  by  you  on 
'  that  subject  must  have  been  from  information.     The 
'  character  of  General  Leslie  has  always  been  repre- 

*  sented  to  me  in  so  favorable  a  light,  that  candor 
'  forbids  me  to  entertain  the  most  distant  idea  of  his 

*  having  intentionally  represented  matters  so  con- 


331 


<  trary  to  feet,  to  answer  even  the  greatest  political 
«  purposes  ;  but  it  is  evident  that  he  has   been  most 

<  grossly  imposed  on  by  men  in  whom  he  had  con- 
1  fid  ed,  and  that  they  have  betrayed  him  into  an  as- 

*  sertion  which  must  injure  his  feelings  whenever  he 
f  is  possessed  of  a  true  state  of  the  management  of 
f  those    estates  that  were  put  under  sequestration  by 
'  order  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 

4  I  WOULD  not,  sir,  give  an  hasty  answer  to  your 

*  observations  on  this  subject,  and  thought  myself 

*  well  justified  in  deviating  from  the  rule  of  polite- 
1  ness  in  delaying  an  answer,  that  I  might  have  an 

*  opportunity   of  investigating  truth.     I  have  taken 

*  much  pains  in  my  inquiries,  the  result  of  which  has 

*  been  the  most  indubitable  proofs,  that  so  far  from 
'  these  sequestered  estates  "  having  had  the  greatest 
"  attention  paid  to  them... being  preserved  in  a  con- 
"  nected  state... and  greatly  thriven,"  most  of  them, 

*  while  under  the  management  of  your  sequestrator, 
'  have  been  very  greatly  injured ;  many  have  been 

*  nearly  ruined,  and  others  altogether  so.     What  ex- 
1  pense  the  British  government  has  incurred  on  their 

*  account  I  know  not,  but,  I  can  with  confidence  as- 
'  sert,  the  sequestered  estates  have  been  very  little  be- 
'  nefited  thereby. 

*  I  WILL  now  appeal  to  a  fact  within  your  own  know- 

*  ledge.     You  know  that  great  numbers  of  the  ne- 
(  groes,  belonging  to  these  esates,  are  now  within 


332 


•*  your  lines,  and  lost  to  their  owners.  And  on  few 
«  plantations  is  a  four-footed  animal  to  be  found.  How 
« then  do  you  prove  that  the  estates  have  been  pre- 
'  served  in  a  connected  state,  -when  one  half  of  some, 
'  two-thirds  of  others,  and  the  whole  of  a  few  of  the 

*  estates  have  been  deprived  of  the  negroes  and  stock 
1  that  were  upon  them  when  put  under  sequestration  ? 

*  How  do  you  prove  that  these  estates  have  greatly 

*  thriven,   and  that  the  greatest  attention  has  been 

*  paid  to  them? 

'  As  to  the  liberal  allowance  made  to  the  families 
1  of  those  persons  whose  estates  were  sequestered, 

*  this,  sir,  I  must  beg  leave  to  say  you  have  been  as 

*  greatly  deceived  in,  as  the  other  parts  of  your  in- 
{  formation.     So  far  from  the  wives  and  children 
«  having  been  allowed  the  stipulated  sums  out  of  their 
1  husbands'  and  fathers'  estates,  the   truth   is,  that 
'  after  much  intrealy,  and  in  many  instances  very 
4  unbecoming  treatment,  some  have  obtained  trifling 

*  sums  compared  with   what  they  were   entitled  to, 

*  while  others  have  been  altogether  denied. 

1  ON  this  ground  of  investigation,  I  am  ready  to 

*  meet  you,  sir,  whenever  you  think  proper,  when 

*  I  will  undertake  to  produce  to  you  the  proofs  of 
'  every  thing  I  have  here  advanced. 

'  YOUR  observation  on  the  opposite  conduct  of 
1  each  party  in  carrying  into  execution  the  measures 
1  of  sequestration  and  confiscation,  so  far  from  being 


333 

<  founded  in  fact,  evidently  shew  the  uniform  decep- 

*  tion  into  which  you  have  been  led.    In  the  common 

*  acceptation  of  the  word,  it   is  true,   sequestration 

*  means  no  more  than  a  temporary  privation  of  pro- 

*  perty ;  but  your  sequestrator  general,  and  most  of 
4  his  officers,  have  construed  this  word  into  a  very  dif- 

*  ferent  meaning ;  and.  regardless  of  the  articles  of 
4  capitulation  of  Charleston,  as  well  as  of  the  most 

*  sacred  contracts  contained  in  marriage-settlements, 

*  every  species  of  property,  negroes,  plate,  household- 
«  furniture,  horses,  carriages,  cattle,  &c.  have  been 

*  indiscriminately  torn  from  their  owners  by  persons 

*  now  under  your  immediate  command,  and  have  been 
(  either  sent  beyond  seas,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 

*  had  taken... I  had  almost  safd  plundered  them,  or 
1  now  remain  within  your  lines,  and  in  either  case 

*  lost  to  their  owners. 

*  Now,  sir,  let  us  for  a  moment  view  the  conduct 
t  of  the  legislature  of  this  state  in  their  late  session. 

*  The  most  sacred  regard  has  been  paid  by  them  to 

*  private  contracts,  neither  marriage-settlements  nor 
1  the  faith  of  individuals  have  been  violated,  but  left 
'  to  their  full  operation.     A  provision  also  was  made 

*  for  the  families  of  those  whose  e&tates  have  been 
'  confiscated.     And  although  the  property  of  British 
'  subjects  within  this  state  has  been  confiscated,  yet 
1  the  debts  due  to  them  from  the  citizens  of  this  state 

'  have  been  left  untouched.     And  be  assured,  sir, 
vol..  ii.  2  v 


334 

<  whilst  I  have  the  honor  of  holding  the  rank  I 

*  do,  it  shall  be  my  particular  business  to   see  that 

<  this,  as  well  as  every  other  law  of  the  stale,  is  exe- 

*  cuted  with  lenity,  fidelity  and  integrity. 

'AFTER   these   observations,  permit  me,  sir,   to 

*  draw  your  serious  attention  to  a  candid  and  impar- 
i  tial  view  of  the  conduct  of  each  party  on  the  opera- 

*  tion  of  your  sequestration  and  our  confiscation  acts, 

*  when  I  leave  you  at  liberty  and  at  leisure  to  judge, 
«  whether  you  find  any  difference  between  them,  and 

*  if  you  do,  whether  confiscation  on  our  part  is  likely 
«  to  be  productive  of  more  ruinous  consequences  to 

*  those  who  are  affected  by  it,  than  sequestration  on 

*  your  part  has  been  to  those  unfortunate  citizens  of 

*  this  state  who  have  felt  its  effects. 

*  As  to  the  assumption  of  a  right  on  the  part  of 
4  the  state,  to  treat  its  citizens  according  to  their  de- 

*  merits,  I  must  beg  leave  to  observe  such  language 

*  is  only  calculated  to  irritate,  and  by  no  means  to 

*  accomplish  the  ends  you  aim  at.     And,  sir,  if  you 
t  conceive  ours  to  be  no  more  than  an  assumed  right, 

*  1  have  reason  to  suppose  that  no  convention  that 

*  can  be  entered  into  in  the  negociation  that  you  pro- 

*  pose  can  be  looked  upon  by  you  as  binding,  after  it 

*  has  been  in  the  most  solemn   manner  concluded. 

*  And,  did  I  not  suppose  the  expression  had  inadvert- 
'  ently  escaped  you,  I  should  rest  the  matter  here, 
i  and  think  no  more  about  it.    But  the  opinion  I  en« 


*  tertain  of  General  Leslie  forbids  me  to  imagine  him 
<  capable  of  deception. 

*  You  entirely  mistake  my  character  when  you 
'  suppose  me  to  be  intimidated  by  threats,  and  there* 
4  by  deterred  from  executing  the  duties  of  the  office 
4  with  which  the  state  has  honored  me.  For,  be  as- 
4  sured,  sir,  the  laws  of  this  state  trusted  to  me»  must 
{  and  shall  be  carried  into  execution... maugre  the 
4  consequences. 

4  THE  powers  vested  in  me  by  the  state  are  very 
4  extensive ;  but  I  shall  ever  be  extremely  cautious 
4  how  I  exercise  them,  and  when  I  do  I  must  be  con- 

*  vinced  that  the  exercise  of  my  extraordinary  powers 
4  is  calculated  to  produce  some  proportionate  benefit 
<  to  the  state. 

«  I  WOULD  recommend  to  you,  sir,  to  consider  well 
4  the  consequences  before  you  carry  into  execution 

*  the  threats  you  hold  out ;  for,  remember,  the  estates 

*  reserved  for  marriage-settlements,    and  the  debts 
4  due  to  those  who  have  attached  themselves  to  your 
1  cause,    as  well  as  the  debts  due  to  the  subjects  of 
4  Britain,  are  in  my  power,    and  that  I  can,   in  an 
4  hour's  time,    deprive  them  of  every  benefit  to  be 
«  derived  to  them  from  the  benevolent  intentions  of 

*  the  legislature  of  this  state.     My  sensibility  would 
4  be  extremely  wounded,  should  I  be  reduced  to  the 

*  painful  necessity  of  exercising  this  power  ;    but  it 

*  rests  with  you,  sir,  whether  I  do  or  not.    And  I  shall 


336 

c  be  as  ready  as  you  are  to  appeal  to  the  world  for  the 
c  rectitude  of  my  conduct. 

<  YOUR  proposition  for  suspending  the  operation 
<  of  the  confiscation  act,  without  offering  any  equiva- 
« lent,  is  inadmissable-     If  you  have  any  thing  seri- 
*  ous  and  solid  to  propose  on  this  head,  I  am  ready 
1  to  appoint  commissioners  on  my  part  to  meet  those 
4  of  yours  to  confer  on  the  business. 
' 1  have  the  honor  to  be, 
*  sir,  your  most  obedient 
'  and  humble  servant, 
(Signed)  '  JOHN  MATHEWS. 

*  Lieutenant  General  LESLIE.' 

AFTER  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis'  army  in 
Virginia,  the  Pennsylvania  line  marched  to  South 
Carolina  and  joined  General  Greene,  which  enabled 
him  to  send  a  detachment  to  Georgia,  under  the 
command  of  General  Wayne.  That  country  had 
been  entirely  laid  waste  by  the  desolations  of  war : 
the  rage  between  Whig  and  Tory  ran  so  high,  that 
what  was  calltd  a  Georgia  parole,  and  to  be  shot 
down,  were  synonymous. 

ARMED  parties  were  frequently  making  excursions 
against  the  British  detachments.  Colonel  Clark  com- 
manded a  party  of  Georgia  militia,  and  the  twenty- 
third  of  March,  1781,  fell  in  with  Major  Dunlap, 
near  Ninety-six,  with  a  detachment  of  British  troops : 


337 

the  major  and  forty-three  men  were  killed,  and  forty  - 
two  taken  prisoners. 

IN  January,  1782,  General  Wayne  was  detached 
to  Savannah-river  with  one  hundred  dragoons,  under 
Colonel  White  ;  he  crossed  at  the  Two-sisters'  ferry  ; 
having  previously  ordered  the  Americans  at  Augusta, 
to  join  him  at  Ebenezer :  he  was  afterwards  reinforc- 
ed by  three  hundred  continental  infantry  under  Colo- 
nel Posey.  The  British  commander  hearing  of  the 
Americans,  sent  orders  to  all  the  different  posts,  to 
burn  the  provisions  in  the  country,  and  retire  within 
their  works  at  Savannah.  The  provisions  were  so 
effectually  destroyed,  that  the  Americans  were  oblig- 
ed to  depend  chiefly  upon  South  Carolina  for  their 
support.  The  garrison  at  Savannah  consisted  of 
about  one  thousand  regulars  and  some  militia,  under 
the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Clarke.  Notwith- 
standing, General  Wayne  appeared  frequently  be- 
fore their  lines,  and  attacked  their  picquets.  Several 
attempts  were  made  to  surprise  the  advance  of  the 
Americans  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jackson,  but 
without  effect. 

ABOUT  this  time,  Governor  Martin,  of  the  state  of 
Georgia,  came  with  his  council  from  Augusta  to 
Ebenezer,  and  re-established  the  American  govern- 
ment near  the  sea-coast.  Soon  after  his  arrival;  he 
issued  his  proclamation,  offering  every  British  and 
Hessian  soldier  who  would  leave  Savannah,  two 


338 

hundred  acres  of  land  and  some  stock ;  which  had  a 
very  good  effect. 

ON  the  twenty-first  of  May,  1782,  Colonel  Brown 
marched  out  of  Savannah,  with  an  intention  of  attack- 
ing the  Americans  but  General  Wayne  got  between, 
him  and  Savannah,  attacked  him  at  twelve  o'clock  at 
night,  and  routed  his  whole  party.  Colonel  Brown 
had  forty  men  killed  and  twenty  taken  prisoners- 
The  Americans  had  only  five  killed  and  two  wounded- 

ON  the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  1782,  a  party  of 
Creek  Indians,  with  a  British  officer  at  their  head, 
made  an  attack  on  General  Wayne  in  the  night. 
They  conducted  the  affair  with  so  much  spirit,  that 
they  got  possession  of  two  field-pieces  that  were  in  the 
rear;  the  troops  so  rallied  and  recovered  the  two 
pieces.  This  was  a  smart  action,  in  which  they 
fought  hand  to  hand  with  tomahawks,  swords  and 
bayonets:  the  Indians  were  routed;  they  lost  one  of 
their  chiefs,  and  fourteen  were  killed.  The  Ameri- 
cans took  a  British  standard  and  a  number  of  horses. 
The  American  army  interrupted  the  intercourse  be- 
tween the  Indians  and  Savannah.  A  party  of  them 
were  on  their  way  to  Savannah  with  a  large  quantity 
of  skins  and  a  number  of  horses,  which  were  taken  by 
General  WTayne.  Two  of  them  were  detained  as 
hostages ;  the  remainder  were  sent  home  with  provi- 
sions and  a  friendly  talk.  This  kind  treatment,  with 
the  successes  of  General  Greene  and  the  surrender 


339 

of  Lord  Cornwallis,  detached  the  Indians  from  their 
friends  the  British* 

EARLY  in  1782.  Great  Britain  was  induced  to  aban- 
don all  offensive  operations  in  America ;  and  on  the 
twentieth  of  May,  1782,  General  Leslie  proposed  to 
General  Greene  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  but  this  was 
declined  for  want  of  instructions  from  Congress:  how- 
ever, nothing  of  consequence  was  attempted  on  either 
side. 

A  SCHEME  was  now  adopted  of  evacuating  the 
smaller  posts  in  the  United  States;  Savannah  being 
the  first  southern  post  which  was  evacuated.  It  was 
evacuated  on  the  eleventh  of  July,  1782. 

WHEN  the  merchants  and  others  came  to  be  in- 
formed of  this  determination,  they  obtained  per- 
mission to  apply  to  General  Wayne  for  the  security 
of  their  property.  To  their  deputies  he  replied,  '  that, 

*  should  the  British  garrison  eventually  effect  an  evacu- 

*  atioa,  the  persons  and  properties  of  such  inhabitants 
'  and  others,  who  choose  to  remain   in   Savannah, 
«  will  be  protected  by  the  military,  and  resigned  in- 
«  violate  into  the  hands  of  the  civil  authority,  which 

*  must  ultimately  decide.'     The  merchants  and  in- 
habitants of  Savannah,    having   sent  out  a  second 
flag,  General  Wayne,  at  the  desire  of  the  civil  au- 
thority of  the  state,  sent  them  for  answer,  *  that  the 
'  merchants,     not  owing  allegiance  to  the  United 
<  States,  will  be  permitted  to  remain  a  reasonable 


540 

*  time  to  dispose  of  their  goods  and  settle  their  af- 

*  fairs.'     Major  Habersham,  who  was  charged  with 
this  message,  pledged  himself  that  they  might  rely, 
vith  the  utmost  confidence,  on  the  terms  proposed 
to  them. 

ON  the  eleventh  of  July,  1782,  the  British  evacu- 
ated Savannah,  and  the  Americans  took  possession. 
Peace  -was  restored  to  Georgia,  after  it  had  been 
four  years  in  the  possession  of  the  British.  It  was 
supposed  that  state  lost  one  thousand  of  its  citizens, 
and  four  thousand  slaves. 

EARLY  in  1782,  a  report  circulated  that  the  Bri- 
tish intended  to  evacuate  Charleston  very  shortly. 
The  Americans  were  looking  forward  for  that  happy 
event  every  week,  which,  however,  did  not  take  place 
till  the  fourteenth  of  December.  The  moving  such 
a  body  of  troops  with  their  baggage  and  stores,  the 
property  of  the  merchants  and  others,  and  the  vast 
property  plundered  from  the  Americans,  was  a  work 
of  time,  and  required  a  great  many  vessels  to  take 
them  off  which  could  not  be  easily  procured.  How- 
ever, the  Americans  were  in  possession  of  the  whole 
country,  except  Charleston  and  about  five  miles  with- 
out the  gates.  Major  Ganey  was  at  the  head  of  a 
small  party  of  Tories  about  Little  Peedee,  who 
hid  themselves  in  the  swamps,  and  would  frequently 
sally  out,  and  distress  the  people  in  that  neighbor- 
hood. On  the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  a  party  of 


341 

them  came  out  tinder  the  command  of  Captain  Jones, 
and  set  fire  to  Colonel  Kolb's  house;  he  afterwards 
surrendered  himself,  upon  a  promise  of  his  being 
treated  as  a  prisoner.  Notwithstanding,  he  had  been 
so  notorious  a  villain,  that  he  was  immediately  put 
to  death  before  his  wife  and  children.  Ganey  was 
so  troublesome,  that  General  Marion  made  a  treaty 
of  neutrality  with  him  in  1781.  [See  appendix,  note 
34.]  Afterwards,  the  state  gave  them  a  fuli  pardon 
for  all  treasons  which  they  had  committed  and  a  se- 
curity for  their  property,  on  condition  of  their  deli- 
vering up  their  plunder. 

AF  »  ER  ic  was  given  out  in  general  orders  that 
Charleston  would  be  evacuated-  General  Leslie  wrote 
to  General  Greene,  offering  payment  lor  rice  and 
other  provisions  to  be  sent  into  Charleston ;  [See  ap- 
pendix, note  35.]  at  the  same  time  threatening,  that 
if  it  was  not  granted  for  money,  that  it  should  be 
taken  by  force. 

ON  the  proposed  evacuation,  the  merchants  and 
others,  who  came  with  the  British  to  Charleston,  were 
in  a  disagreeable  situation  :  they  had  contracted  large 
debts  with  those  without  the  lines,  who  were  unable 
to  pay;  they  therefore  applied  to  General  Leslie, 
for  leave  to  negociate  for  themselves,  which  was 
granted.  A  deputation  irom  them  waited  on  Gover- 
nor Mathews,  WHO  granted  permission  for  them  to 
reside  in  South  Carolina  eighteen  months,  to  col- 

VOL.  iz.  2  x 


343 

lect  their  debts  and  settle  their  business.  This  in- 
dulgence was  extended  to  a  longer  time  by  the  le- 
gislature. ..,.,,  •  

THE  government  refusing  to  send  provisions  to 
Charleston,  was  the  occasion  of  much  specie  being 
carried  away,  besides  losing  the  opportunity  of  sell- 
ing a  large  portion  of  the  produce  at  a  very  advanced 
price.  It  was  owing  to  their  friendship  for  the 
French  nation,  as  it  was  believed,  that  the  British 
intended  to  supply  themselves  v»  ith  a  large  quantity 
of  provisions,  to  carry  on  the  war  in  the  French 
West-India  Islands.  General  Leslie,  finding  that  he 
could  not  purchase,  sent  out  large  parties  to  seize 
provisions  near  the  different  landings,  and  bring 
them  by  water  to  Charleston.  This  was  effected,  in 
some  instances,  before  a  body  of  men  could  be  sent 
to  prevent  it. 

A  LARGE  party  of  the  British  were  sent  to  Comba- 
hee-ferry  to  collect  provisions ;  where  they  arrived 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  August,  1782.  Brigadier  Ge- 
neral Gist  was  detached  with  about  three  hundred 
infantry  and  cavalry  to  oppose  them  :  he  captured 
one  of  their  schooners,  and  prevented  them,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  getting  provisions.  When  the 
two  parties  were  near  each  other,  Colonel  John  Lau- 
rens,  being  advanced  with  a  small  party,  fell  in  \\  ith 
a  superior  force  which  he  engaged  :  he  was  too  far 
advanced  to  be  supported  by  the  main  body.  In  this 


543 

affair  he  received  his  mortal  wound,  and  died  in  the 
field.  Several  of  his  men  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  party  were  obliged  to  rstreat.  Soon  after  this, 
an  atuck  was  made  on  a  party  of  British  on  James- 
Island,  near  Fort  Johnson,  by  Captain  Wilmot,  who 
was  killed  with  some  of  his  party  ;  the  rest  retreated. 
This  was  the  last  blood  which  was  shed  in  the  Ame- 
rican war. 

WHKN  the  evacuation  of  Charleston  drew  near,  it 
was  apprehended  that  the  British  army  would  carry 
off  some  thousands  of  negroes  which  were  within 
their  lines.  To  prevent  this,  Governor  Mathews 
wrote  a  letter  to  General  Leslie,  dated  August  seven- 
teenth, 1782.  in  which  he  informed  him,  'that,  if  the 
1  property  of  the  citizens  of  South  Carolina  was 

*  carried  off  from  its  owners  by   the   British  army, 

*  he   should   seize   on    the   debts  due  to  the   British 

*  merchants.. .and  the    confiscated    estates... and    the 

*  claims  on  those  estates  by  marriage-settlements... 
<  which  three  articles  were  not  included  in  the  conn's- 
'  cation  act.'     This  conditional  resolution  operated  as 
a  check  on  some,  so  as  to  restrain  their  avidity  for 
plunder,   and  induced  General  Leslie  to   propose  a 
negociation,  for  securing  the  property  of  both  parties. 
The  honorable  Benjamin  Gerard  and  Edward  Rut- 
ledjje,  Esqrs.  were  appointed  commissioners  in  behalf 
of  the  state,  and  Alexander  Wright  and  James  John- 
son, Esqrs.  in  behalf  of  the  royalists.  After  sundry 


344 

conversations,  the  commissioners  on  both  sides,  on 
the  tenth  of  October,  1 782,  ratified  a  compact  on  thii 
subject,  of  which  the  following  are  the  principal  arti- 
cles: 

*  FIRST,  That  all  the  slaves  of  the  citizens  of  South 
'  Carolina,  now  in  the  power  of  the  honorable  Lieu- 

*  tenant  General  Leslie,  shall  be  restored  to  their 

*  former  owners,  as  far  as  is  practicable,  except  such 

*  slaves  as  may  have  rendered  themselves  particularly 

<  obnoxious  on  account  of  their  attachment  and  scr- 

<  vices  to  the  British  troops,  and  such  as  had  specific 

*  promises  of  freedom. 

*  THAT  the  faith  of  the  state  is  hereby  solemnly 
«  pledged,  that  none  of  the  debts  due  to  British  mcr- 
'  chants,  or  to  persons  who  have  been  banished,  or 

*  whose  estates  have  been  confiscated,  or  property 
1  secured  by  family  settlements  faiily  made,  or  con- 
«  tracts  relative  thereto,   shall  now    or  at  any  time 
4  hereafter,  be  arrested  or  with-held  by  the  executhe 
'  autnosity  of  the  state...that  no  act  of  the  legislature 

*  snail  hereafter  pass  for  confiscating  or  seizing  the 
'  same  in  any  manner  whatever,  if  it  is  in  the  power 
«  of  the  executive  to  prevent  it.  .and  that  its  whole 
'  power  and  influence,  both  in  its  public  and  private 
4  capacity,  shall  at  all  times  be  exerted  for  that  pur- 
4  pose. 

4  THAT  the  same  power  shall  he  allowed  for  the  re- 


*  covery  of  the  debts  and  property,  hereby  protected 
«  and  secured  by  the  parties  or  their  representatives, 
'  in  the  courts  of  justice  or  otherwise,  as  the  citizens 

*  of  the  state  may  at  any  time  be  entitled  unto,  not- 

*  withstanding  any  act  of  confiscation  or  banishment, 
'  or  any  other  disability  whatever.. .and  that  the  same 
«  may  b»;  remitted  to  whatever  part  of  the  world  ihty 

*  may  think  proper,  under  the  same,  and  na  other 

*  regulations  than  the  citizens  of  the  state  may  be  sub- 

*  ject  to. 

«  THAT  no  slaves  restored  to  their  former  owners, 

*  by  virtue  of  this  agreement,  shall  be  punished  by 
<  authority  of  the  state  for  having  left  their  masters, 
'  and  attached  themselves  to  the  British  troops  ;  and 
4  it  will  be  particularly  recommended  to  their  respect- 
'  ive  owners  to  forgive  them  for  the  same. 

'  THAT  no  violence  or  insult  shall  be  offered  to  the 
'  persons  or  houses  of  the  families  of  such  persons  as 
'  are  obliged  to  leave  the  state  for  their  adherence  to 
'  the  British  government,  when  the  American  army 
'  shall  take  possession  of  the  town,  or  at  any  time  af- 

*  terwards,  as  far  as  it  is  in  the  power  of  those  in  au- 
'  thority  to  prevent  it. 

«  THAT  Edward  Blake  and  Roger  Parker  Saunders, 
«  Esqrs.  be  permitted  to  reside  in  Charleston  01;  their 

*  parole  of  honor,  to  assist  in  the  execution  of  the  first 
«  article  of  this  compact.' 


346 

IK  consequence  of  this  agreement,  Governor  Ma- 
thews  gave  a  commission  and  a  flag  to  the  honorable 
Thomis  Ferguson  and  Thomas  Waring,  Esqrs.  to  re- 
side near  the  B.itish  lines,  with  instructions  to  receive 
such  negroes  as  should  be  delivered  from  the  garri- 
son. Edward  Blake  and  Roger  Parker  Saunders, 
Esqrs.  had  also  a  commission  and  a  flag  given  them  to 
reside  in  Charleston,  and  forward  the  delivery  of  the 
negroes  to  the  gentlemen  who  were  waiting  to  receive 
them  without  the  garrison.  Governor  Mathews  re- 
quested the  citizens  of  the  state  to  attend  for  the 
purpose  ot  receiving  their  negroes,  and  earnestly  in- 
treated  that  they  would  forgive  them  for  having  de- 
serted their  service  and  joined  the  British.  Great 
were  the  expectations  of  the  suffering  inhabitants, 
that  they  would  soon  obtain  re-possession  of  their 
property  ;  but  these  delusive  hopes  were  of  short  du- 
ration. Notwithstanding  the  solemnity  with  which 
the  compact  had  been  ratified,  it  was  so  far  evaded  as 
to  be  in  a  great  measure  ineffectual  for  the  end  pro- 
posed. 

EDWARD  Blake  and  Roger  Parker  Saunders,  Esqrs. 
having  waited  on  General  Leslie,  were  permitted 
to  examine  the  fleet  bound  to  St.  Augustine  ;  but 
were  not  suffered  to  examine  any  vessel  that  wore 
the  king's  pendant.  Instead  of  an  examination' 
the  word  of  the  commanding  officer,  to  restore  all 
the  slaves  that  were  on  board,  in  violation  of  the 


compact,  was  offered  as  an  equivalent.  In  their  search 
of  the  Augustine  fleet,  they  found  and  claimed  one 
hundred  and  thirty  six  negroes.  When  they  attend- 
ed to  receive  them  on  shore,  they  were  surprised  to 
find  no  more  than  seventy-three  landed  for  delivery. 
They  then  claimed  this  small  residue  of  the  original 
number,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  other  commissioners 
without  the  lines,  but  they  were  informed  by  Gene- 
ral Leslie,  that  no  negroes  would  be  delivered,  till 
three  soldiers  were  restored  that  had  been  taken  by 
a  party  of  General  Creese's  army.  On  that  occa- 
sion, the  following  letter  was  written  to  Edward 
Blake  and  Roger  Parker  Saunders,  Esqrs: 

«  HEAD-QUARTERS,  October  18th,  1?82. 
*  GENTLEMEN, 

*  GENERAL  Leslie  was  much  surprised  on  finding 
1  that  a  large  patrole  from  General  Greene's  army, 
(  two  days  ago,  came  down  so  near  our  advanced 
<  post  on  Charleston-neck,  as  to  carry  off  three  sol- 
1  diers  who  were  a  little  way  in  the  front  At  the 
1  time  this  act  of  hostility  was  committed,  Mr.  Fer- 
4  guson  and  another  person  was  at  Accabee,  where  I 

*  believe  they  still  remain,  in  expectation  of  receiving 

*  the  negroes  to  be  delivered  up,  wiihout  any  sanction 

*  but  that  of  the  agreement  entered  into. 

'  I  AM  directed  to  observe,  that  if  a  line  of  conduc* 

*  on   the  part  of  General  Greene  so  different  from 


348 

*  otrrs,  is  adopted,  that  it  must  of  course  put  an  end 
'  to  the  pacific  intentions  General  Leslie   means  to 

*  follow  in  regard  to  this  province,  daring  the  short 
'  time  he  is  to  remain  in  it. 

«  HE  wishes  you  will  inform  Governor  Mathews, 

*  that  he  expects  the  soldiers  taken  away  will  be  re- 
4  turned,    and  that  the    governor    will   take  proper 
«  measures  to  have  this   requisition  complied  with. 

*  Until  this  is  done,  General  Leslie  must  be  under 

*  the  necessity  of  putting  a  stop  to  the  farther  com- 
'  pktion  of  the  agreement. 

«  I  am,  gentlemen, 
«  your  most  obedient, 
*  humble  servant, 

« J.  WEYMI,  D.  A.  General. 
'  ROGER  P.  SAUNDERS  and 

*  EDWARD  BLAKE,  Esqrs.' 

THIS  letter  being  forwarded  to  Governor  Mathews, 
he  replied  to  it  in  a  letter  to  General  Leslie,  in  the 
following  words : 

1  October  19th,  1782. 
'SIR, 

*  I  WAS  a  few  minutes  ago  favored  with  a  let- 
{ ter  from  Messrs.  Blake  and  Saunders,  inclosing 
'  one  to  them  from  Major  Weyms,  written  by  yoqr 
*  authority.  As  I  do  not  like  a  second-hand  corres- 


349 

1  pondcnce,  I  therefore  address  myself  immediately 

*  to  you. 

«  I  ADDRESSED  a  letter  to  you  this  morning,  by 
'  which  you  will  find,  that  I  was  not  even  then  with- 

*  out  some  apprehensions  of  an  intended  evasion  of 
1  the  compact  entered  into  on  the  tenth  instant:  but 

*  on  the  Receipt  of  Major  Weyms'  letter,    no  room 

*  was  left  me  for  doubt ;    which  obliges  me,  without 
(  giving  farther  trouble  to  those  engaged  in  th«  busi- 
'  ness,    and  introducing  farther  altercation  between 

*  us,   to  declare,    that  I  look  on  that  agreement  as 

*  dissolved,  and  have  accordingly  ordered  my  com- 

*  missioners  immediately  to  quit  your  lines.  But.  be- 

*  fore  I  take  my  final  leave  of  you,  permit  me  to  make 
'  one  or  two  observations  on  Major  Weyms'  letter, 

*  as  probably  the  whole  correspondence  between  us 
1  may  one  day  be  brought  to  public  view. 

*  ON  the  twelfth  instant  I  wrote  to  you,  to  know 
'  whether  persons    going  to  Accabee,  to  bring  off 

*  their  negroes  when  brought  there,  should  be  pro- 

*  tected  from  your  armed  parties ;  and  farther,  to 

*  permit  me  to  send  a  party  of  militia  to  guard  the 
4  negroes  remaining  unclaimed  to  some  part  of  the 
'  country  where  they  could  be  supplied  with  provi- 
'  sions.     To  this  letter  I  have  received  no  answer, 

*  which  has  obliged  me  to  use  the  precaution  of  giv- 
'  ing  flags  to  all  persons  who  have  applied  to  go  to 
1  Accabee,  as  I  could  on  no  principle  look  on  that 

VOL.    II.  2  T 


(  ground  as  neutral  uutil  it  liad  been  mutually  agreed 
f  on  as  such.    Indeed,  I  was  left  to  conclude  the  con- 

*  trary  was  intended  on  your  part,  both  by  your  tedi- 
«  ous  silence,  and  detachments  from  your  army  mak- 
4  ing  excursions  as  far  as  Abhley-ferry,  which  was 

*  absolutely  the  case  the  morning  of  the  day  that  th« 
'  party  from  General  Greene's  army  took  the  soldiers 
'  you  so  peremptorily  demand  of  me.     And,  if  I  am 

*  rightly  informed,  hostilities  were    commenced  by 
4  your  party.    But,  be,  that  as  it  may,  I  conceive  it  of 
'  little  consequence,  as  cither  party  had  a  right  to 

*  commence   hostilities  on  hostile  ground,  and  be- 
'  tween  enemies  every  spot  must  be  considered  as 
*•  such  until  mutually  agreed  upon  to  be  otherwise. 
;  Besides,  it  is  a  well-knovvn  fact,  that  there  is  not  a 
'  day  but  some  of  your  armed  parties  are  on  that  very 
1  ground  which  you  affect  to  hold  neutral. 

k  WITH  regard  to  Messrs.  Ferguson  and  Waring 
1  remaining  at  Accabee  unmolested ;  I  hold  myself 
'  untit- r  no  manner  of  obligation  to  you  for  this  for- 
'  bearance,  as  I  informed  you  they  were  there  under 
«  the  sanction  of  a  fiag...tbat  they  were  to  remain 
'  there  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  negroes  sent 
out  by  the  agents  in  Charlestown.  They  were  there- 
fore authorised  to  continue  there  till  you  signified 
'  the  contrary  to  them.  Flags  from  you  have  re- 
'  mained  within  half  a  mile  of  our  lines  for  several 
1  days,  even  on  private  business,  without  the  least 


351 

1  molestation  whatever.     Besides,  sir,  u  your  reason- 

<  ing,  as  far  as  it  applies  to  those  gentlemen,  proves 
'  any  thing,  it  proves  too  much,  because,  on  the  same 
'  principle,  the  other  two  commissioners,  being  in 
'  Charlestown,  ought  to  make  that  neutral  ground  also, 
'  notwithstanding  no  stipulation  for  that  purpose  had 

<  been  entered  into.     I  never  interfere  with  General 

*  Greene's  military  plans,  therefore  the  paragraph 
'  which  relates  to  his  operations  ought  to  have  been 
f  addressed  to  him  ;  but  I  believe  he  pays  as  little 

*  regard  to  threats  as  I  do. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
(Signed)  <  JOHN  MATHEWS. 

1  Lieutenant  General  LESLIE.' 

THIS  was  the  unsuccessful  termination  of  a  bene- 
volent scheme,  originally  calculated  for  mitigating 
the  calamities  of  war.  Motives  of  humanity,  toge- 
ther with  the  sacred  obligation  of  the  provisional  ar- 
ticles of  peace,  prevented  the  state  of  South  Carolina 
from  extending  their  confiscation  laws.  Instead  of 
adding  to  the  list  of  the  unhappy  sufferers  on  that 
score,  the  successive  assemblies  diminished  their 
number. 

THE  prospects  of  gain,  from  the  sale  of  plundered 
negroes,  were  too  seducing  to  be  resisted  by  the  offi- 
cers, privates  and  followers  of  the  British  army.  On 


552 

their  departure  from  Charlestown,  upward*  of  eight 
hundred  slaves,  who  had  been  employed  in  the  en- 
gineer department,  were  shipped  off  for  the  West 
Indies.  It  was  said  and  believed,  that  these  were 
taken  by  the  direction,  and  sold  for  the  benefit  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Moncrieif.  The  professional  abi- 
lities of  that  distinguished  officer  cannot  be  too  much 
applauded,  nor  his  rapacity  too  much  detested.  The 
slaves  carried  off  by  the  chief  engineer  were  but  a 
small  part  of  the  whole  taken  away  at  the  evacuation, 
but  their  number  is  very  inconsiderabla  when  com- 
pared with  the  thousands  that  were  lost  from  the 
first  to  the  last  of  the  war.  It  has  been  computed  by 
good  judges,  that,  between  the  years  1775  and  1783, 
the  state  of  South  Carolina  was  deprived  of  negroes 
to  the  amount  of  twenty-five  thousand. 

T*K  evacuation,  though  officially  announced  by 
General  Leslie  on  the  seventh  of  August,  as  soon  to 
be  adopted,  did  not  take  place  till  the  fourteenth  «f 
December,  1782. 

THE  latter  end  of  February,  1782,  while  I  was  at 
Philadelphia,  I  received  my  certificate  of  exchange, 
with  my  parole  (cancelled)  from  Colonel  Skinner  : 
as  they  come  from  the  first  authorities,  I  here  insert 
them  that  they  may  serve  for  precedents  in  future. 

«  THESE  are  to  certify,  that  Brigadier  General 


353 

<  William  Moultrie,   in  the  service  of  the  United 

<  States  of  America,  and  late  prisoner  of  war  to  the 

*  British,  was,  on  the  ninth  day  of  this  month,  re- 

*  gularly  exchanged,  with  a  number  of  other  Ameri- 
'  cans,    by  composition  for  Lieutenant  General  Bur- 
'  goyne,  of  the  British  forces,  and  late  a  prisoner  of 

*  war  to  the  United  States  of  America. 

«  GIVEN  under  my  hand  this  nineteenth  day  of 

*  February,  1782. 

f  ABRAHAM  SKINNER, 
*  Commissary  General  of  Prisoners. 
'  To  whom  it  may  concern.' 

*  I  DO  hereby  acknowledge  myielf  to  be  a  prisoner 
'  of  war  upon  my  parole,  to  his  excellency  Sir  Hen- 

*  ry  Clinton,  &c.    and  that  I  am  thereby  engaged, 
'  until  I  shall  be  exchanged,  neither  to  do,  or  cause 
'  any  thing  to  be  done,  prejudicial  to  the  success  of 
{  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  majesty  :  and  I  do  further 
'  pledge  my  parole,  that  I  will  not  intentionally  go 
'  within  twelve  miles  of  any  British  garrison  or  post, 
'  and  that  I  will  surrender  myself  when  required, 
'  agreeable  to  the  terms  of  the  cartel  made  on  the 
1  third  of  May,   1782,  for  the  exchange  and  relief  of 
4  prisoners   of  war  taken  in  the   southern  depart- 
'  ment*. 


•  For  the  Articles  of  a  Cartel  of  Exchange,  sec  page  198, 
vol.  ii. 


354 

*  IN  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  subscribed 
<  my  name  this  eighth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of 
1  our  Lord,  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
1  one. 

*  WM.  MOULTRIE, 

'  Brigadier  General, 
«  Charlestown,  South  Carolina. 
•'  JOHN  BROWN,  A.  Commissary  of  Prisoners. 
*  GEO.  GIBES,  D.  A.  Commissary.' 

GENERAL  Burgoyne's  exchange,    released  almost 
a  whole  brigade  of  American  officers,  prisoners  of 
war.  Only  two  of  the  South  Carolina  line  were  in- 
cluded in  this   exchange,     which  were  Colonel  C. 
Pinckney*  and  myself. 

SOON  after  my  being  exchanged,  I  prepared  to  set 
off  with  my  family  for  South  Carolina,  and  early  in 
April  left  Philadelphia,  and  arrived  at  Waccamaw 
in  South  Carolina  in  June,  where  I  was  informed 
that  General  Greene's  army  lay  at  Ashley-river, 
quite  inactive,  and  no  military  operations  going  on. 
I  remained  at  Winyaw  till  late  in  September,  at 
which  time  I  paid  a  visit  to  General  Greene.  It 
was  the  most  dull,  melancholy,  dreary  ride  that  any 
one  could  possibly  take,  of  about  one  hundred  miles 
through  .the  woods  of  that  country,  which  I  had 


*  General  Pinckney. 


355 

been  accustomed  to  see  abound  with  live-stock  and 
wild  fowl  of  every  kind,  was  now  destitute  of  all.  It 
had  been  so  completely  checquered  by  the  different 
parties,  that  not  one  part  of  it  had  been  left  unex- 
plored ;  consequently,  not  the  vestiges  of  horses,  cat- 
tle, hogs,  or  deer,  &c.  was  to  be  found.  The  squirrels 
and  birds  of  every  kind  were  totally  destroyed.  The 
dragoons  told  me,  that  on  their  scouts,  no  living  crea- 
ture was  to  be  seen,  except  now  and  then  a  few 
camp  scavengers,*  picking  the  bones  of  some  unfor- 
tunate fellows,  who  had  been  shot  or  cut  down,  and 
left  in  the  woods  above  ground.  In  my  visit  to  Ge- 
neral Greene's  camp,  as  there  was  some  danger  from 
the  enemy,  I  made  a  circuitous  route  to  General  Ma- 
rion's camp,  then  on  Santee-river,  to  get  an  escort 
which  he  gave  me,  of  twenty  infantry  and  twenty  ca- 
valry: those,  with  the  volunteers  that  attended  me 
from  Georgetown,  made  us  pretty  strong.  On  my 
way  from  General  Marion's  to  General  Greene's 
camp,  my  plantation  was  in  the  direct  road,  where  I 
called  and  stayed  a  night.  On  my  entering  the 
place,  as  soon  as  the  negroes  discovered  that  I  was 
of  the  party,  there  was  immediately  a  general  alarm, 
and  an  outcry  through  the  plantation,  that  *  Massa 
was  come !  Massa  was  come !'  and  they  were  running 
from  every  part  with  great  joy  to  see  me.  I  stood  in 


*  Turkey  buzzards. 


356 

the  piazza  to  receive  them :  they  gazed  at  me  with 
astonishment,  and  every  one  came  and  took  me  by 
the  hand,  saying,  *  God  bless  you,  massa!  vre  glad  for 
see  you,  massa  !'  and  every  now  and  then  some  one 
or  other  would  come  out  with  a  <  ky !'  And  the  old 
Africans  joined  in  a  war-song  in  their  own  language, 
of  *  welcome  the  war  home.'  It  was  an  affecting 
meeting  between  the  slaves  and  the  master:  the  tears 
stole  from  my  eyes  and  run  down  my  cheeks.  A 
number  of  gentlemen  that  were  with  me,  could  not 
help  being  affected  at  the  scene.  Many  are  still 
alive,  and  remember  the  circumstance.  I  then  pos- 
sessed about  two  hundred  slaves,  and  not  one  of  them 
left  me  during  the  war,  although  they  had  had  great 
offers,  nay,  some  were  carried  down  to  work  on  the 
British  lines,  yet  they  always  contrived  to  make  their 
escapes  and  return  home.  My  plantation  I  found  to 
be  a  desolate  place;  stock  of  every  kind  taken  off; 
the  furniture  carried  away,  and  my  estate  had  been 
under  sequestration.  The  next  day  we  arrived  at 
General  Greene's  camp  ;  on  our  near  approach,  the 
air  was  so  infected  with  the  stench  of  the  camp,  that 
we  could  scarcely  bear  the  smell ;  which  shows  the 
necessity  of  moving  camp  often  in  the  summer,  in 
these  hot  climates.  General  Greene  expecting  the 
evacuation  to  take  place  every  week,  from  the  month 
of  August,  was  the  reason  he  remained  so  long  on 
the  same  ground. 


BEFORE  I  conclude  my  memoirs,  I  must  make  my 
last  tribute  of  thanks  to  the  patriotic  fair  of  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  for  their  heroism  and  virtue 
in  those  dreadful  and  dangerous  times  whilst  we 
were  struggling  for  our  liberties.  Their  conduct  de- 
serves the  highest  applause  ;  and  a  pillar  ought  to  be 
raised  to  their  memory :  their  fortitude  was  such  as 
gave  examples,  even  to  the  men  to  stand  firm ;  and 
they  despised  those  who  were  not  enthusiasts  in  their 
country's  cause :  the  hardships  and  difficulties  they 
experienced  were  too  much  for  their  delicate  frames 
to  bear  j  yet  they  submitted  to  them  with  a  he- 
roism and  virtue  that  never  has  been  excelled  by 
the  ladies  of  any  country ;  and  I  can  with  safety 
say,  that  their  conduct  during  the  war  contributed 
much  to  the  independence  of  America* 

FROM  J.  BURNETJ  ESQ. 
*  ASHLEY-HILL,  December  13th,  1782. 
«  SIR, 

*  THE   general   commands  me   to   say,  that 

*  his  excellency  the,  governor,  intends  passing  the 

*  river  at   Cedar-grove,    and   to  meet  him  on  tke 

*  other  side  of  Ashley-ferry,  at  13  o'clock  to-mor- 
'  row. 

«  GENERAL  Greene  wishes  to  leave  this  place  be- 

VOL*  ii.  2  z 


*  fore  10  o'clock  ;  when  he  hopes  to  have  the  plea- 
'  sure  of  seeing  you  here. 

*  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  SEC. 

«  J.  BURNIT, 

*  The  honorable  Aid-de-Camp. 

1  Major  Gen.  MOULTRIE, 
1  Middleton-place.' 

EVACUATION. 

ON  Saturday,  the  fourteenth  day  of  December, 
1782,  the  British  troops  evacuated  Charlestown,  af- 
ter having  possession  two  years,  seven  months,  and 
two  days. 

THE  evacuation  took  place  in  the  following  manner : 
Brigadier  General  Wayne  was  ordered  to  cross  Ash- 
ley-river,* with  three  hundred  light-infantry,  eighty  of 
Lee's  cavalry,  and  twenty  artillery,  with  two  six- 
pounders,  to  move  down  towards  the  British  lines, 
which  was  near  Colonel  Shubrick's,  and  consisted  of 
three  redoubts.  General  Leslie  who  commanded  in 

town,  sent  a  message  to  General  Wayne,  informing 
him,  that  he  would  next  day  leave  the  town,  and  for 
the  peace  and  security  of  the  inhabitants,  and  of  the 
town,  would  propose  to  leave  their  advanced  works 


*  General  Greene's  army  by  on  the  west  side  of  Ashley- 
river,  above  the  ferry. 


359  / 

next  day  at  the  firing  of  the  morning  gun  ;  at  which 
time,  General  Wayne  should  move  on  slowly,  and 
take  possession  ;  and  from  thence  to  follow  the  Bri- 
tish troops  into  town,  keeping  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance (say  about  two  hundred  yards  ;)  and  when  the 
British  troops  after  passing  through  the  town  gates, 
should  file  off  to  Gadsden's-wharf,  General  Wayne 
was  to  proceed  into  town,  which  was  done  with 
great  order  and  regularity,  except  now  and  then  the 
British  called  to  General  Wayne  that  he  was  too  fast 
upon  them,  which  occasioned  him  to  halt  a  little. 
About  1 1  o'clock,  A.  M.  the  American  troops  march- 
ed into  town  and  took  post  at  the  state-house. 

AT  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  General  Greene  conducted 
Governor  Mathews,  and  the  council,  with  some  other 
of  the  citizens  into  town:  we  marched  in,  in  the 
following  order:  an  advance  of  an  officer  and  thirty 
of  Lee's  dragoons  ;  then  followed  the  governor  and 
General  Greene  ;  the  next  two  were  General  Gist  and 
myself;  after  us  followed  the  council,  citizens  and 
officers,  making  altogether  about  fifty :  one  hundred 
and  eighty  cavalry  brought  up  the  rear:  we  halted  in 
Broad-street,   opposite   where   the    South   Carolina 
bank  now  stands ;  there  we  alightedj  and  the  cavalry 
discharged  to  quarters:  afterwards,  every  one  went 
where   they  pleased  ;  some  in   viewing   the    town, 
others  in  visiting  their  friends.    It  was  a  grand  and 


360 

pleasing  sight,  to  see  the  enemy's  fleet  (upwards  of 
three  hundred  sail)  laying  at  anchor  from  Fort  John- 
son to  Five-fathom-hole,  in  a  curve  line,  as  the  cur- 
rent runs ;  and  what  made  it  more  agreeable,  they 
were  ready  to  depart  from  the  port.     The  great  joy 
that  was  felt  on  this  day,  by  the  citizens  and  soldiers, 
was  inexpressible :  the  widows,  the  orphans,  the  aged 
men  and  others,  who,  from  their  particular  situations, 
were  obliged  to  remain    in  Charlestown,  many   of 
whom  had  been  cooped  up  in  one  room  of  their  own 
elegant  houses  for  upwards  of  two  years,  whilst  the 
other  parts  were  occupied  by  the  British  officers,  ma- 
ny of  whom  where  a  rude  uncivil  set  of  gentlemen ; 
their  situations,  and  the  many  mortifying   circum- 
stances occurred  to  them  in  that  time,  must  have 
been  truly  distressing.     I  cannot  forget  that  happy 
day  when  we  marched  into  Charlestown  with  the 
American  troops;  it  was  a  proud  day  to  me,  and  I 
felt  myself  much  elated,  at  seeing  the  balconies,  the 
doors,  and  windows  crowded  with  the  patriotic  fair, 
the  aged  citizens  and  others,  congratulating  us  on 
our  return  home,  saying,  «  God  bless  you,  gentle- 
men !  you  are  welcome  home,  gentlemen  !'    Both  ci- 
tizens and  soldiers  shed  mutual  tears  of  joy. 

IT  was  an  ample  reward  for  the  triumphant  soldier, 
after  all  the  hazards  and  fatigues  of  war,  which  he 
had  gone  through,  to  be  the  instrument  of  releasing 
his  friends  and  fellow  citizens  from  captivity,  and  re- 


261 

storing  to  them  their  liberties  and  possession  of  their 
city  and  country  again. 

THIS  fourteenth  day  of  December,  1782,  ought 
never  to  be  forgotten  by  the  Carolinians  ;  it  ought  to 
be  a  day  of  festivity  with  them,  as  it  was  the  real 
day  of  their  deliverance  and  independence. 

[The  following  orders  should  have  been  inserted  in  the  preceding 
part  of  this  volume,  but  was  omitted  by  mistake.] 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  CONGRESS  A\D  ORDERS  FROM 
GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

4  HEAD-QUARTERS,  SHUTT'S-HILI., 

June  18th,  If 80. 

«  As  it  is  at  all  times  of  great  importance,  both 
for  the  sake  of  appearance  and  for  regularity  of  ser- 
vice, that  the  different  military  ranks  should  be  distin- 
guished from  each  other,  and  more  especially  at  the 
present,  the  commander  in  chief  has  thought  proper 
to  establish  the  following  distinctions,  and  strongly 
recommends  to  all  the  officers  to  endeavor  to  conform 
with  them  as  speedily  as  possible. 

'  THE  major  generals  to  wear  a  blue  coat  with  buff 
facings  and  lining,  yellow  buttons,  white  or  buff  under 
clothes,  two  epaulets  with  two  stars  upon  each,  and  a 
black  and  white  feather  in  the  hat. 

*  THE  brigadier  generals  the  same  uniform  as  the 
major  generals,  with  the  difference  of  one  star  instead 
f>f  two,  and  white  feather.  The  colonels,  lieutenant 


362 

colonels  and  majors,  the  uniform  of  their  regiments, 
and  two  epaulets;  captains,  the  uniform  of  their  regi- 
ments and  an  epaulet  on  the  right  shoulder ;  the  sub- 
alterns, the  uniform  of  their  regiments  and  an  epau- 
let on  the  left  shoulder. 

1  THE  aid-de-camps,  the  uniform  of  their  rank  and 
corps;  or,  if  they  belong  to  no  corps,  the  uniform  of 
their  general  officers:  those  of  the  major  general 
and  brigadier  generals,  to  wear  a  green  feather  in 
their  hats;  those  of  the  commander  in  chief,  vrhite 
and  green. 

'  THE  inspectors,  as  well  sub,  as  brigade,  the  uni- 
form of  their  ranks  and  corps,  with  a  blue  feather  in 
the  hat. 

*  THE  corps  of  engineers,  and  that  of  sappers  and 
miners,  a  blue   coat   with    buff  facings,  buff  under 
clothes,  and  the  epaulets  of  their  ranks:  such  of  the 
staff,  as  have  military  rank,  to  wear  the  uniform  of 
the  rank,  and  the  corps  to  which  they  belong  in  the 
line;  such  as  have  no  military  rank,  to  wear  a  plain 
blue  coat,  with  a  cockade  and  sword. 

*  ALL  officers,  as  well  warranted  as  commission- 
ed, to  wear  side  arms,  either  swords  or  genteel  bay- 
onets. 

«  By  order  of  his  Excel.  General  WASHINGTON. 

*  SCAMMEL,  Adjutant  General.* 


APPENDIX, 


NOTE  I. 

LITTER  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT. 
SlR>  April  6th,  1778, 

I  HAVE  received  letters  and  information  from  the 
Congarees,  which  give  good  grounds  to  suspect  that 
some  design  is  formed  to  disturb  the  tranquility  of  the 
interior  parts  of  this  state.  Several  of  the  inhabitants 
have  suddenly  and  secretly  withdrawn  themselves 
from  their  habitations,  and  have  manifested,  by  other 
parts  of  their  behavior,  that  some  enterprise  is  in 
agitation,  that  may,  if  not  timely  attended  to,  sur- 
prise  us  at  a  disadvantage.  I  have  ordered  Colonel 
Beard  to  keep  a  good  look  out,  and  to  raise  a  proper 
number  of  his  militia,  so  as  to  be  in  readiness  to  op- 
pose any  sudden  attempt  that  may  be  undertaken  by 
those  people  called  Tories.  I  have  taken  the  liberty 
to  direct  him  in  case  the  matter  should  wear  a  serious 
aspect  and  require  a  greater  force  than  he  can  rea- 
dily draw  from  his  regiment,  to  apply  for  aid  and  suc- 
cor to  Colonel  Thomson,  who,  I  believe  has  a  detach- 
ment of  his  regiment  near  those  parts,  as  I  intended 
to  apply  to  you  to  give  the  required  assistance.  I 
wish  the  present  appearances  which  have  given  this 
alarm  may  blow  over  without  producing  any  ill  con- 


sequences.  Perhaps  the  late  incursions  of  the  Florida 
scouts  in  those  parts,  may  have  afforded  an  opportu- 
nity of  tampering  with  the  ill-affected,  and  of  exciting 
ill  humours  amongst  them.  However  this  may  be, 
it  is  prudent  to  be  prepared  against  the  worst. 

I  am,  &c. 

RAWLINS  LOWNDES. 
The  honorable  General  MOULTRIE. 

HITHERTO  the  state  had  paid  and  clothed  the  troops, 
and  furnished  every  article  that  was  necessary  for 
military  operations  from  their  own  stores,  the  conti- 
nent having  nothing  here  at  the  time,  which  blended 
the  civil  and  military  so  much  together,  as  brought  on 
disagreeable  altercations,  and  made  it  quite  a  hetero- 
geneous command,  because  it  constrained  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  troops  to  apply  to  the  president 
for  the  smallest  article  for  the  use  of  the  army.  In 
consequence  of  the  above  letter  from  the  president,  I 
wrote  the  following. 

NOTE  II. 

LETTER  TO  THE  PRESIDENT. 
SIR,  April  11,  1778. 

As  there  are  disturbances  in  this  and  the  neighbor- 
ing states,  and  as  the  matter  may  grow  more  serious, 
I  shall  frequently  have  occasion  for  different  articles 
from  the  public  stores,  for  the  use  of  the  continental 


365 

troops  in  this  state.  I  have  daily  applications  from  the 
different  commanding  officers,  sometimes  for  trifling 
articles,  which  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  with  at 
every  call;  I  shall  therefore  be  obliged  to  you,  to  or- 
der the  public  store-keeper  to  deliver  to  my  order,  or 
to  the  deputy  quarter-master  general  on  his  giving  a 
receipt  for  the  same,  such  articles  as  may  be  wanted 
for  the  troops  or  forts,  in  times  of  alarm  or  actual 
invasion*  It  is  impossible  I  can  have  time  to  send 
to  you  by  letter  or  otherwise  for  every  article ;  should 
I  be  under  that  necessity,  it  would  retard  our  busi- 
ness, and  perhaps  be  the  loss  of  the  whole. 

The  deputy  quarter-master  general  informs  me, 
he  is  in  want  of  twenty  thousand  pounds  to  pay  the 
debts  already  incurred,  and  for  future  services:  I 
shall  be  much  obliged  to  your  excellency  for  an  or- 
der on  the  treasurer  in  favor  of  the  deputy  quarter- 
master general  for  that  sum,  for  the  use  of  the  troops 
in  this  state.  I  am,  &c. 

WILLIAM  MOULTRII. 

To  his  Excellency  RAWLINS  LOWNDES. 

NOTE  III. 

LETTER  TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  CONGRESS. 
SlR?  April  19th,  1778. 

THE  honorable  Major  General  Howe  being  now 
in  Georgia,  the  command  of  the  continental  troops  in 
VOL,  n.  3  A 


366 

this  state  devolves  upon  me :  I  therefore  tlo  myself 
the  honor  of  writing  you  to  inform  you  of  such 
matters  as  fall  within  the  line  of  my  duty. 

ANOTHER  matter  which  occurred  the  other  day, 
was  this  :  requesting  the  favor  of  the  president  to  or- 
der the  treasurer  of  this  state,  to  advance  to  the  deputy 
quarter-master  general,  twenty  thousand  pounds  for 
the  use  of  the  continental  troops  in  this  state,  he  re- 
fused, until  he  could  first  see  the  quarter-master's  ac- 
counts ;  I  desired  the  deputy  quarter-master  general 
to  send  him  his  books  for  his  perusal,  which  he  ac- 
cordingly did,  by  his  clerk,  but  the  president  was  not 
well   pleased  on  his  not  waiting  upon  him  himself: 
the  deputy  quarter-master  general  said,  he  had  no 
business  with  the  president ;   his  business  was   with 
the  commanding  officer:  the  president  also  desired 
the  accounts  to  be  drawn  out  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  auditor  of  this  state.     I  told  him  I  thought  the 
auditor  had  no  business  with  the  accounts;  that  he 
was  not  a  competent  judge  whether  they  were  right 
or  not;  that  the  accounts   were  transmitted  to   the 
board  of  war  and  to  General  Mifflin,  who  were  the 
proper  judges,  and  .who  laid  them  before  Congress. 

THE  president  apprehended,  by  a  resolution  of  Con- 
gress, passed  February  the  ninth,  1778,  that  he  had 
the  power  of  suspending  Colonel  Huger,  but  I  differ- 
ed entirely  with  him,  and  told  him,  that  officer  had 
his  commission  immediately  from  Congress:  he  re- 


plied,  thai  {  he  was  only  a  deputy  of  General  Miff- 
'  lin's.'  I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  your  honor  to 
represent  these  matters  to  Congress  and  have  them 
cleared  up,  as  I  should  be  extremely  unhappy  to 
have  any  difference  with  the  executive  authority  dur- 
ing my  command.  I  yesterday  received  letters  by- 
express  from  General  Howe,  acquainting  me  that  he 
is  apprehensive  of  an  invasion  on  the  state  of  Georgia, 
but  does  not  mention  any  particulars ;  but,  from  flying 
reports,  the  insurgents  from  our  back  country  are 
gone  off,  to  the  number  of  five  or  six  hundred,  to  join 
Kirkland,  who  has  a  body  of  men  at  Pensacola,  and 
Brown,  at  St.  Mary's.  They  are  to  be  supported  by 
troops  from  Augustine,  with  some  Indians.  Ge- 
neral Howe  has  ordered  me  to  send  him  two  hundred 
and  fifty  continental  troops,  and  thirty  matrosses  with 
two  field-pieces.  The  president  has  ordered  three 
hundred  men  from  Bull's,  and  four  hundred  from 
Williamson's  regiment,  to  rendezvous  at  Purisburgh, 
ready  to  support  them,  which  I  think  will  be  quite 

sufficient,  &c. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  yours,  &c. 

WILLIAM  MOULTRII. 
The  Honorable  HKNRY  LAUKBNS. 


368 

NOTE  IV. 
EXTRACTS  OF  A  LITTER  FROM  GENERAL  Howf. 

SAVANNAH,  April  J4th,   1778. 
DEAR  SIR, 

THE  situation  of  affairs  here,  makes  it  ne- 
cessary to  desire  that  the  men  under  marching  or- 
ders, repair,  with  all  possible  expedition  to  Puris- 
burgh,  where  they  will  receive  directions  as  to  their 
further  conduct.  You  will  take  care  that  they  are  pro- 
vided with  every  military  requisite,  as  this  state  can- 
not furnish  them.  You  are,  however,  not  to  delay 
the  march  of  the  men,  for  any  preparations  of  this 
sort,  as  I  am  exceedingly  anxious  for  their  arrival, 
and  shall  continue  to  be  so,  till  they  do  arrive. 

I  HAVE  written  to  the  president,  requesting  the 
favor  of  him  to  supply  you  with  such  stores,  or  other 
requisites  as  the  continental  agent  cannot  furnish  you 
with,  and  inclose  you  a  memorandum  of  what  just 
now  occurs  to  me.  When  I  wrote  you  before,  though 
I  thought  it  eligible  to  prepare  for  the  worst,  yet  I 
had  hopes  that  things  would  not  have  been  so  serious  ; 
but  the  aspect  they  now  wear,  induces  me  to  believe, 
that  this  state,  deplorably  weak  in  itself,  will  need 
every  support  yours  can  give  it :  I  am  therefore  un- 
der the  necessity  of  ordering  fifty  men  from  the  first 
regiment,  and  also  thirty  men  from  the  artillery, 


369 

with  two  field-pieces,  with  every  thing  proper  for 
action. 

I  am,  &c. 

ROBERT  How*. 
Brig.  Gen.  MOULTRIB. 

NOTE  V. 
LETTER    TO  THE  PRESIDENT. 

CHARCESTOWN,  April  18th,  1778. 
SIR, 

MAJOR  General  Howe  has  ordered  me  to  send  a 
detachment  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  thirty 
matrosses  with  two  field-pieces,  from  this  state,  to 
march  immediately  to  Georgia :  he  has  also  sent  me 
a  list  of  military  stores  much  wanted  there,  and  has 
desired  me  to  request  the  favor  of  you,  to  let  us  have 
such  articles  from  the  arsenal  of  this  state  as  can  be 
spared,  and  that  we  cannot  be  supplied  with  from 
the  continental  agent  here.  I  herewith  send  you  a 
list  of  the  articles  wanted,  and  also  sixty  tents  for  the- 
detachment,  and  three  hundred  havre-sac.  He  de- 
sires me,  by  all  means,  to  have  the  commissary,  the 
pay-master  and  the  deputy  quarter-master  general  to 
be  well  provided  with  money  ;  all  of  which  he  must 
know  cannot  be  done  without  the  favor  of  this  state 
lending  the  money,  as  we  have  no  military  chest 
here.  I  am  sorry  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  re- 
quiring a  loan  from  the  treasury,  as  I  know  the  great 


370 

demands  upon  it,  and  the  little  money  in  bank  ; 
however,  if  we  cannot  be  supplied,  I  fear  it  will  be 
of  very  dangerous  consequences  to  Georgia,  as  well 
as  to  this  state,  if  not  soon  relieved  by  us.  I  have 
shown  you  General  Howe's  letter,  in  which  you  see 
how  pressing  he  is  to  expedite  the  marching  of  the 
troops. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

WiLMAM   MOULTRIE, 

Brigadier  General. 
To  his'Excellency  RAWLINS  LOWNDBS. 

NOTE  VI. 
LETTER  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT. 

SIR,  April  17th,  1778. 

SEVERAL  gentlemen  being  out  of  town,  I  am 
not  able  to  make  a  council.  Such  part  of  the  articles 
which  you  mention  in  your  list  that  we  can  spare, 
consistent  with  a  proper  attention  to  our  own  safety, 
you  shall  have ;  but  I  cannot  ascertain  the  quantity  or 
species,  until  I  make  further  inquiry.  The  tents, 
the  iron  and  the  lead,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  curtail, 
as  also  the  cartridge-paper.  The  most  difficult  article 
is  the  cash,  which  we  certainly  are  not  in  a  condition 
to  supply  in  any  considerable  amount. 
I  am  Sir,  &c. 

RAWLINS  LOWNDES. 

Brig.  Gen.  MOULTRIE. 


371 

NOTE  VII. 
LETTER  TO  GENERAL  HOWE. 

CHARLESTOWN,  April  18th,  1778. 
DEAR  SIB, 

I  RECEIVED  yours  by  express,  last  night,  and 
shall  order  the  first  detachment  off  to-morrow  morn- 
ing ;  the  remainder  of  the  first  regiment  and  the 
artillery  will  march  off  on  Monday,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Charles  C.  Pinckney ;  he,  I  think 
you.  will  be  glad  to  see  with  the  detachment.  I  ap- 
plied to  the  president  for  the  articles  you  wanted,  as 
by  your  list  sent  me.  He  says,  '  what  we  can  spare} 
1  consistent  with  a  proper  attention  to  our  own  safety, 

*  you  shall  have,  but  I  cannot  ascertain  the  quantity 

*  or  species,  until  I  make  further  inquiry.    The  tents, 
'  (I  applied  for  sixty,)  the  iron  and  the  lead,  we  shall 
'  be  obliged  to  curtail,  and  also  the  cartridge-paper. 
4  The  most  difficult  article  is  the  cash,  which  .we 

*  certainly  are  not  in  a  condition  to  supply,  in  any 

*  considerable  amount.'     The  treasury,  I  know,  is  at 
a  very  low  ebb  just   now,  owing  to  the  many  large 
draughts  for  our  navy.    They  are  almost  tired  of  ad- 
vancing for  the  continent.     I  wish  you  had  been 
more  particular  in  your  letter,  relative  to  your  ap- 
prehensions of  Georgia.     You  have  left  us  to  guess 
at  the  number,  situation  and  posture  of  the  enemy. 
A  part  of  our  unfortunate  fleet  is  returned... the  Gene- 
ral Moultrie  and  Morgan.     They  give  us  the  parti- 


372 

culars  of  the  unhappy  fate  of  the  Randolph.  She  blew 
up  in  about  fifteen  minutes  engagement,  fighting 
at  a  most  infernal  rate.  The  ship  she  engaged  was 
the  Yarmouth  of  sixty-four  guns.  They  were  so 
near  as  to  throw  their  hand  granades  from  their  tops 
upon  each  other's  decks  :  in  short,  during  the  time 
of  the  action,  it  was  one  continual  bla.ze  of  fire,  8cc. 
I  am,  Sec. 

WILLIAM  MOULTRIE. 

NOTE  VIII. 

EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  HOWE'S 
AID-DE-CAMP. 

SAVANNAH,  April  18th,  1778. 
SIB, 

I  am  directed  by  General  Howe  to  request  of 
you,  that  you  would  have  the  remaining  part  of  the 
continental  troops,  amounting  to  one  half  the  number 
and  allowed  by  the  president  and  council  of  your  state, 
in  immediate  readiness  for  marching,  upon  receiving 
the  general's  orders.  The  general  is  extremely  anxi- 
ous to  have  the  stores  he  wrote  for  forwarded  with 
all  possible  expedition,  and  which  he  trusts  your  di- 
ligence will  exert  itself  not  to  permit  to  be  delayed  at 
a  vime  of  such  critical  danger. 
I  am,  Sec. 

J.  F.  GRIMKIE,  Aid-de-Camp. 
To  Brig.  Gen.  MOULTEIE. 


373 

NOTE  IX. 
LETTER  FROM  MAJOR  GRIMKIE. 

SAVANNAH,  April  21st,  1778. 
SIR, 

INCLOSED  you  have  the  deposition  of  a  person 
arrived  in  Savannah  this  evening,  in  three  days  from 
St.  Augustine,  which  is  of  the  utmost  importance. 
I  am  sure,  sir,  lhat  you  will  not  only  see  the  necessity 
of  ordering  up  the  remainder  of  the  troops  allowed 
by  the  governor  and  council,  but  that  you  will, 
without  delay,  execute  the  orders  I  inclosed  you  this 
morning.  You  will  therefore  be  pleased  to  order 
them  to  rendezvous  at  Savannah  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  person  who  makes  this  affidavit,  is  a  gentleman 
of  reputation,  and  has  traded  to  Savannah  ten  or 
twelve  years. 

I  am,  &c. 

T.  F.  GRIMKIE,  Aid-de-Camp. 
'Brig.  Gen.  MOULTRIE. 

NOTE  X. 

GEORGIA. 

CAPTAIN  James  Mercer  at  Savannah,  being  duly 
sworn,  maketh  oath  and  saith,  '  that  the  deponent 
«  about  the  seventeenth  day  of  April,  sailed  from  St. 
t  Augustine  with  a  French  lad,  and  set  sail  from 
<  thence  with  intent  to  come  to  this  state,  where  he 
*  is  now  happily  arrived;  after  mentioning  to  the  peo- 

voi.  ii*  3  a 


374 

'  pie  in  Augustine  that  the  deponent  was  bound  to 
1  St.  John's,  the  better  to  secure  his  safe  passage  and 
'  prevent  suspicions  of  his  coming  to  Georgia...That 
'  a  number  of  troops  under  the  command  of,  and  with 
General  Provost,  had  left  Augustine,  and  were  des- 

<  lined  towards  the  Alatamaha,  as  the  deponent  was 
'  informed...That  he  believes  about  three   hundred 
1  men,  regular  troops,  were  left  to  garrison  at  Augus- 
«  tine,  as  was  said.-.That  the  deponent,  on  his  arrival 
'  in  Augustine,  was  informed  there  were  about  four- 
4  teen  hundred  men  in  Augustine;  and  the  deponent 
4  saw  some  of  the  battalions  reviewed.. .That  about 
4  three  hundred  men  from  the  back  parts  of  South 
«  Carolina  had  arrived  and  encamped  at  St,  Mary's  ; 
'  and  that  seven  hundred  more  were  expected,  and  on 

<  their  march  to  join  them ;  and  that  advice  of  the 
4  three  hundred  had  been  sent  to  Augustine. ..That  an 
'  express  had  come  from  the  Creek  Indians,  inform- 
'  ing,  that  they,  the  Indians,  were  coming  down  to  join 
'  the  people  of  St.  Augustine,  as  was  reported...That 
1  it  was  generally  believed  that  an  expedition  was  on 

<  foot  against  Georgia...That  a  number  of  French 
«  prisoners  had  been  sent  off,  and  that  two  cartels 
4  bound  to  Charlestown  or  to  Georgia,  were  ready  to 

<  sail,  with  a.  number  of  prisoners  on  board  the  vessels 

<  appointed  for  that  purpose;  and  that  no  ships  of  war 

<  were  off  the  bar  of  Augustine  when  he  the  deponent 
'  left  the  place,  other  than  Bachop's  sloop  of  twelve 


375 

{  guns,  in  the  harbor,  bound  on  a  cruize...That  the 
<  deponent  further  said,  that  he  saw  and  partook  of 
«  plenty  of  salt  provisions,  but  very  little  fresh,  &c. 

*  JAMES  MERCER.' 
Sworn  before  me,  21st  April,  1778. 

WM.  STEPHENS,  Attorney  General. 

NOTE  XI. 

LETTER  FROM  COLONEL  ELBERT  TO  GENERAL 
HOWE,  INCLOSED  TO  ME. 

FREDERIC  A  HARBOR,  on  board  the  Sloop  Rebecca. 
DEAR  GENERAL,  April  19th,   1778. 

I  HAVE  the  happiness  to  inform  you,  that  about 
ten  o'clock  this  forenoon,  the  Brigantine  Hinchen- 
brook,  the  Sloop  Rebecca,  and  the  prize  brig,  all 
struck  the  British  colors,  and  surrendered  to  the 
American  arms.  Having  received  intelligence  that 
the  above  vessels  were  at  that  place,  I  put  about 
three  hundred  men,  by  detachments,  from  the  troops 
under  my  command  at  Fort  Howe,  on  board  the 
three  gallies...the  Washington,  Captain  Hardy ;  the 
Lee,  Captain  Braddock;  and  the  Bullock,  Captain 
Hatcher;  and  a  detachment  of  artillery  with  two 
field-pieces,  under  Captain  Young,  I  put  on  board  at 
boat.  With  this  little  army  we  embarked  at  Darien, 
and  last  evening  effected  a  landing  at  a  bluff,  a  mile 
below  the  town  ;  having  Colonel  White  on  board  the 
Lee,  Captain  Melvin  on  board  the  Washington,  and 


376 

Lieutenant  Petty  on  board  the  Bullock ;  each  with  a 
sufficient  party  of  troops.  Immediately  on  landing, 
I  dispatched  Lieutenant  Ray  and  Major  Roberts  with 
about  one  hundred  men,  who  marched  directly  up  to 
the  town,  and  made  prisoners  three  marines  and  two 
sailors  belonging  to  the  Hinchenbrook.  It  being 
late,  the  galley  did  not  engage  until  this  morning. 
You  must  imagine  what  my  feelings  were,  to  see 
our  three  little  men-of-war  going  on  to  the  attack  of 
those  three  vessels  who  have  spread  terror  on  our 
coast,  and  who  drew  up  in  order  of  battle.  But  the 
weight  of  our  metal  soon  damped  the  courage  of 
those  heroes,  who  took  to  their  boats;  and  as  many 
as  could,  abandoned  their  vessels,  with  every  thing 
on  board...of  which  we  immediately  took  possession. 
What  is  extraordinary,  we  have  not  one  man  hurt. 
Captain  Ellis  is  drowned,  and  Captain  Mawberry  made 
his  escape.  As  soon  as  I  can  see  Colonel  White, 
who  has  not  come  up  with  his  prize,  I  shall  consult 
with  him  and  the  others  on  the  expediency  of  attack- 
ing the  Galatea,  now  laying  at  Jakyl. 
I  am,  &c. 

SAMUEL  ELBERT. 

NOTE  XII. 

LETTER  TO  GENERAL  HOWE. 
DEAR  SIR,  April  24th,  1778. 

I  RECEIVED  yours  by  express,  last  night,  and 


377 

heartily  rejoice  at  your  success  under  Colonel  Elbert, 
and  hope  soon  to  hear  of  their  taking  the  Galatea.  I 
doubt  not  but  this  will  rouse  the  drooping  spirits  of 
the  Georgians,  and  I  think  it  will  stop  General  Pro- 
vost's further  progress.  Our  first  detachment  march, 
ed  off  a  few  days  ago,  and  Colonel  Charles  C.  Pinck- 
ney  with  the  second,  went  off  yesterday.  I  have  the 
use  of  the  state  galley  to  send  to  Georgia  ;  I  shall 
man  her  with  some  soldiers,  and  in  her  send  you  ten 
thousand  pounds  of  powder,  and  the  cannon-shot,  with 
some  cartridge-paper,  &c.  with  some  of  your  stores. 
I  think  they  might  getto  Savannah  sooner  than  if  they 
went  by  land.  I  have  ordered  the  remainder  of  Thom- 
son's and  Sumpter's  regiments  to  be  ready  to  march 
on  my  receiving  your  further  orders.  I  cannot  send 
you  a  general  return  of  the  troops  by  the  express,  but 
1  will  have  them  ready  to  send  you  by  the  next  op- 
portunity. Our  number  of  continental  troops  be- 
longing to  this  state,  amount  to  about  fifteen  hundred. 
I  doubt  not  but  that  you  will  have  boats  ready  to 
convey  the  troops  from  Purisburgh  to  Savannah.  I 
am  much  hurried  in  getting  the  stores  on  board  the 

galley.    I  therefore  refer  you  to  Colonel  Charles  C. 
Pinckney  for  particulars,  &c. 
I  am,  8cc. 

WILLIAM  MOULTRIE. 

Brigadier  General. 


Sf8 

,.•:.        :.-.,.•          NOTE  XtIL 

LETTER   FROM  MAJOB  GRIMKIE. 
HEAD-QUARTERS,  SAVANNAH,  April  26th,  1778. 
SIR, 

I  HAVE  to  request  your  excuse  if  I  did  not  de- 
liver myself  so  explicitly  as  I  was  ordered  to  do  in 
the  last  letter  I  wrote  you  by  desire  of  Major  Gene- 
ral Howe.  As  I  did  not  keep  a  copy,  not  having 
time  to  write  it  over  again,  I  cannot  refer  to  the  or- 
der, nor  do  I  at  present  recollect  in  what  mode  of  ex- 
pression I  delivered  myself.  The  order,  sir,  that  it 
VMS  my  intention  to  transmit  you,  should  have  posi- 
tively declared  the  necessity  for  the  immediate  march 
of  the  troops,  forming  the  remaining  part  of  the 
continental  battalions  in  the  state  of  South  Caro- 
lina. You  will  please,  therefore,  to  order  the  troops 
you  refer  to,  whom  you  say  you  have  directed  to 
be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning,  and 
consists  of  the  other  parts  of  Colonel  Thomson's 
and  Sumpter's  regiments.  They  are  to  proceed 
to  Fort  Howe,  by  the  shortest  road  upon  the  Ala- 
tamaha,  without  touching  at  Savannah,  &c. 

By  order  of  the  General, 

I  am,  Sec. 

J.  F.  GRIMKIE,  Aid- de-Camp. 
Brier.  Gen.  MOULTRIE. 


ST9 

NOTE  XIV. 

LITTER  TO  MAJOR  GRIMKIE. 
SIR,       '  CHARLESTO-WN,  May  1st,  1778. 

THE  excuse  you  request  should  rather  be  asked 
by  me,  as  I  neglected  to  inform  you,  that  your  orders 
were  very  explicit,  and  I  accordingly  put  them  in  ex- 
ecution, excepting  for  Thomson's,  in  lieu  of  which  I 
sent  the  first  regiment,  as  they  are  better  clothed  and 
disciplined.  I  hope  this  last  detachment  will  reach 
you  by  Sunday  next.  I  can  scarcely  have  time  to  or- 
der them  to  the  Alatamaha:  their  orders  were  to  pro- 
ceed immediately  to  Purisburgh.  I  think  it  will  still 
be  the  best  way,  as  I  have  sent  the  galley  round  to 
Savannah,  with  a  quantity  of  stores  and  officers'  bag- 
gage. I  am  sending  a  schooner  with  about  two  hun- 
dred barrels  of  pork  ;  if  more  should  be  wanted,  we 
can  spare  it  very  well.  I  wish  General  Howe  would 
order  the  galley  back  as  soon  as  she  has  delivered 
her  cargo,  that  she  may  be  here  ready,  in  case  he 
should  want  any  other  assistance. 

I  am,  &c. 
•••..)*/ia&Mfjfp$itf|!tfi:      •          WILLIAM  MOULT R IE. 

Brigadier  General. 

NOTE  XV. 

LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  HOWE. 
DEAR  Sis,  SAVANNAH,  May  3,  1778. 

As  the  quantity  of  medicines,  &c.  sent  up  are  by 
no  means  proportioned  to  the  troops  already  here, 


580 

and,  consequently,  must  be  very  inadequate  to  the 
wants  of  the  army,  when  the  other  detachments  ar- 
n\c,  I  must  desire  that  a  surgeon  from  the  general 
hospital,  with  medicines  and  every  necessary  appa- 
ratus very  liberally  proportioned  to  the  men  sent, 
may,  without  the  least  delay,  and  by  the  shortest 
route,  be  ordered  to  join  the  army  at  Fort  Howe. 

I  am,  Sec. 

ROBERT  HOWE. 
Brig.  Gen.  MOULTRIE. 

NOTE  XVI. 

LKTTER  FROM  COLONEL  CHARLES  C.  PINCKNEV* 
SAVANNAH,  May  4th,  1778. 
DEAR  GENERAL, 

FROM  every  appearance  here,  it  is  probable  we 
shall  have  something  to  do.  The  design  of  the  Hinch- 
enbrook,  Rebecca,  and  the  other  vessels  that  were 
lately  taken,  was  to  attack  Sunberry,  while  General 
Provost  with  some  Augustine  troops,  penetrated  into 
and  ravaged  the  interior  parts  of  this  state  ;  but  the 
capture  of  those  vessels  has,  I  believe,  considerably 
damped  their  ardor  :  they,  however,  yet  maintain  their 
advanced  post  on  St.  Mary's,  and,  from  a  letter  of 
Brown's,  mean  to  maintain  it.  On  board  the  Hinch- 
enbrook  was  found  three  hundred  suits  of  clothes  be- 
longing to  my  regiment,  which  were  taken  in  Hatter  : 
these,  I  presume,  were  intended  for  the  insurgents. 
We  have  been  in  daily  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 


381 

the  row-galley  with  the  ammunition  and  stores,  but 
it  is  not  yet  come.  The  General  has  countermanded 
your  order  relative  to  the  waggons  ;  has  ordered 
me  to  take  them  on  with  me  ;  indeed,  we  could  no 
possibly  do  without,  for  they  will  be  as  necessary  to 
us  from  Savannah  to  Alatamaha  and  St.  Mary's,  as 
they  were  from  Charlestown  to  Savannah. 
I  am,  Sec. 

CHARLE  s  COTESWORTH  PINCKNEY. 
Brig.  Gen.  MOULTRIE. 

NOTE  XVIL 

JL.ETTER   FROM  GENERAL  HoWE. 

CAMP  AT  FORT  HOWE,  May  23d,  1778. 

DEAR  SIR, 

THE  strange  delay  of  the  Carolina  galley  with 

the  military  stores,  has  detained  me  much  against  mjr 

jnclination,  and  to  the  great  injury  of  the  service. 

The  enemy  are  determined  to  give  us  something  to 
do  at  St.  Mary's,  where  they  are  pretty  well  posted, 
and  assisted  with  cannon.  Had  I  not  been  detained, 
I  should  have  prevented  their  being  quite  so  well  pre- 
pared; but,  upon  the  whole,  perhaps.it  is  for  the  best, 
for  should  they  exhaust  their  strength  in  out  postSj 
the  ultimate  result  may  be  much  more  important 
than  at  first  we  hoped.  St.  Johns,  also,  they  are 
preparing  to  render  formidable  to  us  by  posts  on 
both  sides  of  the  river.  We  have  sanguine  hopes  of 
VOL.  ii*  3  c 


382 

success  upon  these  posts,  that  if  we  obtain,  any  fur- 
ther progress  will  depend  intirely  upon  circumstances: 
nothing  too  extensive,  or  risk,  will  be  undertaken  you 
may  depend  upon  it.  It  is,  however,  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  those  advanced 
posts,  or  Georgia  may  as  well  be  given  up  to  the  ene- 
my. As  I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  taking 
on  the  schooner  with  the  provisions,  I  would  wish 
you  to  procure  another  vessel,  and  forward  to  us  at 
least  one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  pork,  or  two 
hundred  if  possible ;  and  1  recommend  that  expedi- 
tion should  be  used  upon  this  occasion.  I  have  to 
lament  that  you  did  not  furnish  the  men  with  more 
kettles,  canteens  and  tents,  when  so  many  were  in  the 
arsenal.  I  assure  you  the  men  suffer  exceedingly,  for 
the  canteens,  particularly,  in  a  country  like  this,  when 
a  whole  day's  march  may  be  made  without  one  drop 
of  water.  I  would  wish  a  row-boat  with  five  hundred 
canteens,  two  hundred  kettles,  and  as  many  tents  as 
could  be  got,  be  dispatched  with  them,  with  orders  to 
proceed,  both  by  night  and  by  day,  to  Sunberry,  where 
they  will  receive  orders,  &c. 

I  am,  &c. 

ROBERT  HOWE. 
Brig.  Gen.  MOUI.TRIE. 


383 

NOTE  XVIII. 

LETTER  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  CONGRESS. 
YORK-TOWN,  May  18th,   1778. 
DEAR  GKNERAL, 

ON  the  thirteenth  instant,  I  was  honored  with 
your  favor  of  the  twentieth  of  April ;  the  next  morn- 
ing I  presented  it  to  Congress,  and  it  was  ordered 
with  his  excellency  President  Lowndes'  dispatches, 
to  a  select  committee.  When  a  report  is  made,  and 
I  receive  commands,  you  shall  be  immediately  in- 
formed :  in  the  mean  time,  I  may  safely  assure  you, 
the  deputy  quarter-master  general  is  liable  to  sus- 
pension by  the  president,  should  he,  which  I  hold 
to  be  impossible,  give  cause  by  improper  conduct. 
I  shall  this  day  return  thanks  to  Governor  Living- 
ston, for  his  attention  to  public  interest,  by  suspend- 
ing many  staff-officers... among  them,  a  person  ex- 
actly upon  a  line  with  Colonel  F.  Huger,  a  depu- 
ty quarter-master,  appointed  by  General  Mifflin.  I 
may  as  safely  add,  the  president,  refusing  to  grant 
money  before  preceding  grants  had  been  accounted 
for,  is  generally  applauded,  and,  I  presume,  will  be 
more  especially  noticed  by  the  committee,  &c. 
I  am,  &c. 

HENRY  LAURBNS. 
Brig.  Gen,  MOULT  R  IE. 


384 

NOTE  XIX. 

LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  HOWE. 
CAMP  AT  FORT  HOWE,  STATE  OF  GEORGIA, 
DEAR  SIR,  May  15th,  1778. 

I  WAS  obliged  to  draw  upon  the  president  for 
money  to  pay  for  waggons  which  the  deputy  quarter- 
master general  of  your  state  was  by  necessity  of  ser- 
vice obliged  to  purchase,  and  which,  however,  are  a" 
cheap  bargain.  I  therefore  wish  you  to  wait  upon 
the  president,  and  exert  yourself  to  have  the  orders 
paid,  as  the  case  of  the  men  will  be  deplorable  indeed, 
should  they  be  disappointed;  and  the  credit  of  conti- 
nental officers  so  injured,  that  they  will  not  be  able 
to  obtain  any  thing  the  service  may  require,  however 
necessary  it  may  be,  &c.  I  am,  &c. 

ROBERT  HOWE. 
Brig.  Gen.  MOULT R IE. 

' 

NOTE  XXI.     PAGE  210. 
SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

PROCLAMATION  by  his  Excellency  Sir  HENRY  CLIN- 
TON, Knight  of  the  most  honorable  order  of  the 
Bath,  General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  all  his 
Majesty's  forces  within  the  colonies  lying  on  the 
Atlantic  ocean,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  West  Florida 
inclusive,  &c.  &c. 
WHEREAS,  after  the  arrival  of  his  majesty's  forces 

under  my  command  in  this  province  in  February 


385 

last,  numbers  of  persons  were  made  prisoners  by  the 
army,  or  voluntarily  surrendered  themselves  as  such, 
and  such  persons  were  afterwards  dismissed  on  their 
respective  paroles  :  and  whereas,  since  the  surrender 
of  Charlestown,  and  the  defeats  and  disperses  of 
the  rebel  forces,  it  is  become  unnecessary  that  such 
paroles  should  be  any  longer  observed ;  and  proper 
that  all  persons  should  take  an  active  part  in  settling 
and  securing  his  majesty's  government,  and  deliver- 
ing the  country  from  that  anarchy  which  for  some  time 
hath  prevailed  ;  I  do  therefore  issue  this  my  proclama- 
tion to  declare,  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  pro- 
vince, who  are  now  prisoners  upon  parole  and  were 
not  in  the  military  line  (those  who  were  in  Fort 
Moultrie  and  Charlestown  at  the  times  of  their  capitu- 
lation and  surrender,  or  were  then  in  actual  con- 
finement, excepted)  that,  from  and  after  the  twenti- 
eth day  of  June  instant,  they  are  freed  and  exempt- 
ed from  all  such  paroles,  and  may  hold  themselves 
as  restored  to  all  the  rights  and  duties  belonging  to 
citizens  and  inhabitants. 

AND  all  persons  under  the  description  before  men- 
tioned, who  shall  afterwards  neglect  to  return  to  their 
allegiance,  and  to  his  majesty's  government,  will  be 
considered  as  enemies  and  rebels  to  the  same,  and 
treated  accordingly. 

GIVEN  under  my  hand,  at  head-quarters  in  Charles- 
- 


3S6 

town,  the  third  day  of  June,   1780;  and  in  the  twen- 
tieth year  oi  his  majesty's  reign. 

(Signed)  H.  CLINTON. 

By  his  Excellency's  command, 

(Signed)  PETEB  RUSSET,, 

Assisting  Secretary. 

NOTE  XXIL     PAGE  210. 

To  their  Excellencies  Sir  HENRY  CLINTON,  Knight 
.  ol  the  Bath,  General  of  liis  Majesty's  Forces,  and 
MARIOT  ARBUTHNOT  Esq.  Vice-Admiral  of  the 
Blue,  his  Majesty's  Commissioners  to  restore  Peace 
and  good  Government  in  the  several  Colonies  in 
rebellion  in  JNorth- America. 

The  humble  ADDRESS  of  divers  Inhabitants  of 
Charlestown. 

/  THE  inhabitants  of  Charleslown,  by  the  articles  of 
capitulation,  are  declared  prisoners  on  parole  ;  but  we 
the  under-written,  having  every  inducement  to  return 
to  our.  allegiance,  and  ardently  hoping  speedily  to  be 
re-admitted  to  the  character  and  condition  of  British 
subjects,  take  this  opportunity  of  tendering  to  your 
excellencies  our  warmest  congratulations  on  the  re- 
storation of  this  capital  and  province  to  their  politi- 
cal connexion  with  the  crown  and  government  of 
Great  Britain ;  an  event  which  will  add  lustre  to  your 


387 

excellencies  characters,  and,  we  trust,  entitle  you  to 
the  most  distinguishing  mark  of  the  royal  favor.  Al- 
though the  right  of  taxing  America  in  parliament, 
excittd  considerable  ferments  in  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  province,  yet  it  may,  with  a  religious  ad- 
herence to  truth,  be  affirmed,  that  they  did  not  en- 
tertain the  most  distant  thought  of  dissolving  the 
union  that  so  happily  subsisted  between  them  and 
their  parent  country  ;  and  when,  in  the  progress  of 
that  fatal  controversy,  the  doctrines  of  independency 
(which  originated  in  the  more  northern  colonies) 
made  its  appearance  among  us,  our  nature  revolted 
at  the  idea,  and  we  look  back  with  the  most  painful 
regret  on  those  convulsions  that  gave  existence  to  a 
power  of  subverting  a  constitution,  for  which  we  al- 
ways had,  and  ever  shall  retain  the  most  profound 
yeneration,  and  substituting  in  its  stead  a  rank  de- 
mocracy, which,  however  carefully  digested  in  theory, 
on  being  reduced  into  practice,  has  exhibited  a  sys- 
tem of  tyrannic  domination,  only  to  be  found  among 
the  uncivilized  part  of  mankind,  or  in  the  history  of 
the  dark  and  barbarous  ages  of  antiquity. 

WE  sincerely  lament,  that  after  the  repeal  of  those 
statutes  which  gave  rise  to  the  troubles  in  America, 
the  overtures  made  by  his  majesty's  commissioners 
from  time  to  time,  were  not  regarded  by  our  late 
rulers.  To  this  fatal  inattention  are  to  be  attributed 
those  calamities  which  have  involved  our  country  in 


388 

a  state  of  misery  and  ruin,  from  which,  however,  we 
trust,  it  will  soon  emerge,  by  the  wisdom  and  cle- 
mency of  his  majesty's  auspicious  government,  and 
the  influence  of  prudential  laws,  adapted  to  the  na- 
ture of  the  evils  we  labor  under ;  and  that  the  peo- 
ple will  be  restored  to  those  privileges,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment whereof  their  former  felicity  consisted. 

ANIMATED  with  these  hopes,  we  entreat  your  ex- 
cellencies interposition  in  assuring  his  majesty,  that 
we  shall  glory  in  every  occasion  of  manifesting  that 
zeal  and  affection  for  his  person  and  government, 
with  which  gratitude  can  inspire  a  free  and  joyful 
people. 

CHARLESTOWN,  June  5th,   1780. 

[SIGNED  by  two  hundred  and  ten  of  the  principal 
inhabitants.]  ;  tHtotiMKMPfr 

NOTE  XXIII.    PAGE  222. 

CHARLESTOWN,  August  29. 

COPY  of  a  PROCLAMATION  issued  by  General  GATES 
at  PEEDEE,  the  fourth  instant. 

By  HORATIO  GATES,  Esq.  Major  General  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Army  of  the  United  States 
in  the  Southern  Department  of  America,  &c.  8cc. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 
THE  patriotic  exertions  of  the  virtuous  citizens  of 

America,  having  enabled  me,  under  the  protection 


,:  389 

of  Divine  Providence,  to  vindicate  the  rights  of  Ame- 
rica in  this  state,  and  by  the  approach  of  a  nume- 
rous, well-appointed,  and  formidable  army,  to  com- 
pel our 'late  triumphant  and  insulting  foes  to  retreat 
from  their  most  advantageous  posts,  with  precipita- 
tion and  dismay ;  I  have  judged  it  most  expedient) 
at  this  period  of  my  progress,  to  give  assurances  of 
forgiveness  and  perfect  security  to  such  of  the  unfor- 
tunate citizens  of  this  state,  as  have  been  induced  by 
the  terror  of  sanguinary  punishments,  the  menace  of 
confiscation,  and  all  the  arbitrary  measures  of  military 
domination,  apparently  to  acquiesce  under  the  British 
government,  and  to  make  a  forced  declaration  of  al- 
legiance and  support  to  a  tyranny, '  which  the  indig- 
nant souls  of  citizens  resolved  on  freedom,  inwardly 
revolted  at,  with  horror  and  detestation. 

AND  in  order  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  real 
friends  of  America  to  testify  their  affection  and  at- 
tachment to  the  cause  of  liberty,  an  invitation  is 
hereby  held  out  to  them  to  assert  that  rank  among 
the  free  and  independent  citizens  of  America?  in 
which  their  former  exertions  and  zeal  had  deservedly 
placed  them,  and  to  join  heartily,  when  called  upon, 
in  rescuing  themselves  and  their  country  from  an 
opposition  of  a  government  imposed  on  them  by  the 
ruffian  hand  of  conquest.  Nevertheless,  I  cannot  at 
present  resolve  to  extend  these  offers  of  pardon  and 
security  to  such,  as  in  the  hour  of  devastation,  have 

VOL.  II.  3   D 


390 

exercised  acts  of  barbarity  and  depredation  on  the 
persons  and  property  of  their  fellow-citirens ;  nor  to 
such,  as  being  apprized  of  the  security  afforded  to 
them  by  the  army  under  my  command,  shall  be  so 
lost  to  a  sense  of  honor  and  the  duty  they  owe  to 
their  country,  as  hereafter  to  give  countenance  and 
support  to  that  enemy,  who,  but  for  the  disaffection, 
of  many  of  the  apostate  sons  of  America,  had  long 
ere  this  been  driven  from  the  continent. 

THE  inhabitants  of  this  state  may  rely  on  the  as* 
surahce  that  an  army  composed  of  their  brethren  and 
fellow-citizens  cannot  be  brought  among  them  with 
the  hostile  vices  of  plunder  and  depredation.  Such 
triumphs,  under  the  color  of  protection  and  support, 
are  left  to  grace  the  British  arms  alone :  but  they 
may  rest  satisfied,  that  the  genuine  motive  which  has 
given  energy  to  the  present  exertions,  Is  the  hope  of 
rescuing  them  from  the  iron  rod  of  oppression,  and 
restoring  to  them  those  blessings  of  freedc-m  and  in- 
dependence which  it  is  the  duty  and  interest  of  the 
citizens  of  these  United  States,  jointly  and  recipro- 
cally, to  support  and  confirm. 

GIVEN  at  head-quarters,  on  thfr  river  Peedee,  this 
fourth  day  of  August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  and  in  the  fifth 
year  of  our  independence. 

HORATIO  GATES. 

By  the  General's  command, 

CHRIST.  RICHMOND,  Secretary. 


391 

NOTE  XXIV,    PAGE  2^5. 
To  the  right  honorable  CHARLES  EARL 
LIS,  Lieutenant  General  of  his  Majesty's  Forces, 
&q.  &c. 

The  humble  ADDRESS  of  divers  loyal  Inhabitants  of 
CHARLESTOWN. 

WE,  his  majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  subjects,  in- 
habitants of  Charlestown,  finding  ourselves  disap- 
pointed in  the  expectation  we  entertained  of  your 
lordship's  returning  shortly  to  this  capital,  whereby 
we  are  precluded  of  personal  access  to  your  lordship, 
take  this  opportunity,  through  the  intervention  of  the 
commandant,  of  tendering  to  your  lordship  our  joy- 
ful  congratulations  on  the  total  defeat  and  dispersion 
of  the  rebel  army,  by  his  majesty's  forces  under 
your  command. 

WHEN  we  reflect  on  the  desolation  and  ruin  with 
which  this  province  was  threatened  by  the  unrelent- 
ing cruelty  of  a  formidable  and  menacing  enemy, 
we  think  ourselves  fortunate  that  we  had  no  idea  of 
our  danger,  until  we  were  effectually  relieved  from 
it  by  the  glorious  victory  obtained  by  your  lordship, 
wherein  the  interposition  of  a  protecting  providence 
is  evident;  which  inspires  us  with  gratitude  to  the 
Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe ;  and  at  the  same  timp 
excites  in  our  minds  a  due  sense  of  the  manifold  ob- 
ligations we  have  to  your  lordship,  for  your  #*• 


392 

tinguished  conduct  and  courage,  so  eminently  con  . 
spicuous  in  the  accomplishment  of  that  great  event, 
which  has  rescued  this  province  from  impending 
destruction,  and  is  no  less  advantageous  to  our  most 
gracious  sovereign  and  the  British  empire,  than  ho- 
norable to  your  lordship;  and  which  fame  will  trans, 
mit  to  the  latest  posterity,  with  that  tribute  of  praise 
and  admiration  your  lordship  has  so  justly  merited 
on  this  important  occasion. 

ALTHOUGH  a  prevailing  faction  subverted  our  ex- 
cellent constitution,  and  established  a  democratic 
kind  of  government  in  its  stead,  yet,  as  that  arbitra- 
ry system  of  rule  was  annihilated  by  the  surrender  of 
this  capital,  and  submission  of  the  country,  every 
member  of  the  community  had  an  indubitable  right 
to  consult  his  own  happiness;  and  as  the  people 
in  general,  induced  by  their  predilection  and  venera- 
tion for  the  old  constitution,  have  made  an  expli- 
cit declaration  of  their  allegiance,  and  availed  them- 
selves of  the  protection  of  that  government  under 
which  they  formerly  enjoyed  the  highest  degree  of 
civil  and  political  liberty,  as  well  as  security  in  their 
properties,  we  cannot  but  consider  the  late  attempt 
of  Congress  to  subjugate  the  freemen  of  this  province 
to  their  tyrannical  domination,  an  additional  proof  of 
their  restless  ambition,  and  of  the  wicked  machina- 
tions of  the  contemptible  remains  of  that  expiring 
faction,  who  have  so  recently  exercised  a  despotic 


393 

and  lawless  sway  over  us;  and  we  trust  that  every 
other  hostile  experiment,  by  the  goodness  of  God, 
and  your  lordship's  vigilance  and  animated  endeavors, 
will  be  rendered  equally  futile. 

THAT  Heaven,  propitious  to  your  lordship's  active 
zeal  in  the  service  of  your  king  and  country,  may 
crown  your  future  exertions  with  success,  and  incline 
our  deluded  sister  colonies  to  partake  of  those  bles- 
sings of  which  we  have  so  fair  a  prospect,  are  the 
sincere  and  ardent  wishes,  not  only  of  us,  but  we  are 
persuaded  of  every  other  loyal  inhabitant  of  Charles- 
town. 

September  19th,  1780. 

[SIGNED  by  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  persons.] 

NOTE  XXV.     PAGE  249. 

Saturday,  January  13th,  1781. 

THE  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter 
of  December  seventh  from  Major  General  Greene, 
delivered  in  a  report ;  whereupon, 

CONGRESS  taking  into  consideration  the  eminent 
services  rendered  to  the  United  States  by  Brigadier 
General  Sumpter,  of  South  Carolina,  at  the  head  of 
a  number  of  volunteer  militia,  from  that  and  the 
neighboring  states,  particularly  in  the  victory  ob- 
tained over  the  enemy  at  the  Hanging-Rock,  on  the 
sixth  of  August ;  in  the  defeat  of  Major  Weyms  and 
the  corps  of  British  infantry  and  dragoons  under  his 


command,  at  Broad-river,  on  the  ninth  day  of  No- 
vember, in  which  the  said  Major  Weyras  was  made 
prisoner;  and  in  the  repulse  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Tarleton,  and  the  British  cavalry  and  infantry  under 
his  command,  at  Black- Stocksj  on  Tyger-river,  on 
the  twentieth  day  of  November  last ;  in  each  of  which 
actions  the  gallantry  and  military  conduct  of  General 
Sumpter,  and  the  courage  and  perseverance  of  his 
troops,  were  highly  conspicuous : 

RESOLVED,  therefore,  that  the  thanks  of  Congress 
be  presented  to  Brigadier  General  Sumpter,  and  the 
militia  aforesaid,  for  such  reiterated  proofs  of  their 
patriotism,  bravery  and  military  conduct,  which  en- 
title them  to  the  highest  esteem  and  confidence  of 
their  country;  and  that  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  southern  department  dp  forthwith  cause  the  same 
to  be  issued  in  general  orders,  and  transmitted  to 
General  Sumpter. 

NOTE  XXVI.  PAGE  258. 
IN  CoNCRtss,    MARCH,    1781. 

Friday,  March  9th,   178U 

ON  the  report  of  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Burke,  Mr.  Varnum  and  Mr.  Bee,  to  whom  were 
referred  sundry  letters  from  Major  General  Greene 
and  Brigadier  General  Morgan,  the  followi»g  reso- 
lutions were  passed  : 

THE  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  con- 


395 

sidering  it  as  a  tribute  due  to  distinguished  merit  to 
give  a  public  approbation  of  the  conduct  of  Brigadier 
General  Morgan,  and  of  the  officers  and  men  under 
his  command,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  January  last ; 
when,  with  eighty  cavalry  and  two  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-seven infantry  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States, 
and  five  hundred  and  fifty-three  militia  from  the 
states  of  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia,  he  obtained  a  complete  and  important 
victory  over  a  select  and  well-appointed  detachment 
of  more  than  eleven  hundred  British  troops,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tarleton ;  do  there- 
fore resolve : 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  be  given  to  Brigadier  General  Morgan 
and  the  men  under  his  command,  for  their  fortitude 
and  good  conduct  displayed  in  the  action  at  the  Cow- 
pens,  in  the  state  of  South-Carolina,  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  January  last: 

THAT  a  medal  of  gold  be  presented  to  Brigadier 
General  Morgan,  and  a  medal  of  silver  to  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Washington,  of  the  cavalry,  and  one  of  silver 
to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Howard,  of  the  infantry,  of  the 
United  States,  severally,  with  emblems  and  mottoes 
descriptive  of  the  conduct  of  those  officers  respectively 
on  that  memorable  day : 

THAT  a  sword  be  presented  to  Colonel  Pickens 
of  the  militia,  in  testimony  of  his  spirited  conduct  in 
the  actwn  before  mentioned : 


306 

THAT  Major  Edward  Giles,  aid-de-camp  of  Briga- 
dier General  Morgan,  have  the  brevet  commission  of 
a  major  ;  and  that  Baron  de  Glasbeck,  who  served 
with  Brigadier  General  Morgan  as  a  volunteer,  have 
the  brevet  commission  of  captain  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States,  in  consideration  of  their  merit  and  ser- 
vices. 

ORDERED,  that  the  commanding  officer  in  the 
southern  department  communicate  these  resolutions. 
in  general  orders. 

NOTE  XXVII.     PAGE  271. 

By  CHARLES  EARL  CORNWALMS,  Lieutenant  Ge- 
neral of  his  Majesty's  Forces,  &c. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

WHZRSAS  by  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God,  his 
majesty's  arms  have  been  crowned  with  signal  suc- 
cess, by  the  complete  victory  obtained  over  the  rebel 
forces  on  the  fifth  instant,  I  have  thought  proper  to 
issue  this  proclamation,  to  call  upon  all  loyal  subjects 
to  stand  forth,  and  take  an  active  part  in  restoring 
good  order  and  government:  and,  whereas  it  has 
been  represented  to  me^  that  many  persons  in  this 
province,  who  have  taken  a  share  in  this  unnatural 
rebellion,  but  having  experienced  the  oppression  and 
injustice  of  the  rebel  government,  and  having  seen 
the  errors  into  which  they  have  been  deluded  by 
falsehoods  and  misrepresentations,  are  sincerely  de-, 
sirous  of  returning  to  their  duty  and  allegiance,  I  do^ 


397 

hereby  notify  and  promise  to  all  such  persons  (mur- 
derers excepted)  that  if  they  will  surrender  them- 
pelves,  with  their  arms  and  ammunition,  at  head- 
quarters,  or  to  the  officer  commanding  in  the  district 
contiguous  to  their  respective  places  of  residence,  on 
or  before  the  twentieth  day  of  April  next,  they  will 
be  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes,  upon  giving  a 
military  parole ;  and  shall  be  protected  in  their  per- 
sons and  properties  from  all  sorts  of  violence  from 
the  British  troops;  and  will  be  restored,  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  all  the  privileges  of  legal  and  constitu- 
tional government. 

GIVKN  under  my  hand  at  head-quarters,  this 
eighteenth  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1781,  and  in  the 
twenty-first  year  of  his  majesty's  reign. 

(Signed)  CORNWALLIS. 

NOTE  XXVIII.     PAGE  277. 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  FAYSSOUX  TO  DR.  RAMSAT. 
CHARLESTOWJJ,  March  26th,  1785. 
SIR, 

IN  compliance  with  your  request,  I  now  send  you 
some  of  the  most  remarkable  facts  relative  to  the 
treatment  the  American  prisoners,  the  sick  in  parti- 
cular, received,  during  their  captivity  in  Charlestown, 
from  the  British.  The  director  general  having  been, 
confined  by  the  British,  the  immediate  charge  of  the 
American  hospital  devolved  on  me,  I  can  therefore 

VOL.    II*  3  E 


399 

answer  for  the  truth  of  this  account,  as  every  circum- 
stance was  within  my  own  knowledge.  From  the 
surrender  of  Charlestown  to  the  period  of  General 
Gates'  defeat,  I  do  not  think  we  had  any  material 
cause  of  complaint. 

Tnt  regulations  f6r  the  government  of  the  hospi- 
tal, the  supplies  of  medicine  and  diet,  were  in  gene- 
ral prescribed  by  ourselves  and  acceded  to  by  the 
British. 

AFTER  the  defeat  of  General  Gates,  our  suffer- 
ings commenced.  The  British  appeared  to  have 
adopted  a  different  mode  of  conduct  towards  their 
prisoners,  and  proceeded  from  one  step  to  another, 
until  they  fully  displayed  themselves,  void  of  faith, 
honor  or  humanity,  and  capable  of  the  most  savage 
acts  of  barbarity. 

THE  unhappy  men  who  belonged  to  the  militia, 
and  were  taken  prisoners  on  Gates'  defeat,  experien- 
ced the  first  effects  of  the  cruelty  of  their  new  system. 

THESE  men  were  confined  on  board  of  prison-ships, 
in  numbers  by  no  means  proportioned  to  the  size  of 
the  vessels,  immediately  after  a  march  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  miles,  in  the  most  sickly  season  of 
this  unhealthy  climate. 

THESE  vessels  were  in  general  infected  with  the 
small-pox  i  very  few  of  the  prisoners  had  gone  through 
that  disorder.  A  representation  was  made  to  the 
British  commandant  of  their  situation,  and  permis- 


399 

sion  was  obtained  for  one  of  our  surgeons  to  inocu- 
late them. ..this  was  the  utmost  extent  of  their  hu- 
manity.t.the  wretched  objects  were  still  confined  on 
board  of  the  prison-ships,  and  fed  on  salt  provisions) 
without  the  least  medical  aid,  or  any  proper  kind  of 
nourishment.  The  effect  that  naturally  followed)  was 
a  small -pox  with  a  fever  of  the  putrid  type  ;  and  to 
such  as  survived  the  small-pox,  a  putrid  dysentery... 
and,  from  these  causes,  the  deaths  of  at  least  one 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  unhappy  victims.  Such  were 
the  appearances,  and  such  was  the  termination  of  the 
generality  of  the  cases  brought  to  the  general  hospi- 
tal after  the  irruption  of  the  small-pox.. .before  the 
irruption,  not  a  single  individual  was  suffered  to  be 
brought  on  shore.  If  any  thing  can  surpass  the  above 
relation  in  barbarity,  it  is  the  following  account  :•» 

THE  continental  troops,  by  the  articles  of  capitula- 
tion, were  to  be  detained  prisoners  in  some  place 
contiguous  to  Charlestown  ;  the  barracks  were  pitch- 
ed on  as  the  proper  place  ;  this  was  agreed  to  by 
Jboth  parties....Thc  British,  in  violation  of  their  so- 
lemn compact,  put  these  people  on  board  of  prison- 
ships....Confined  in  large  numbers  pn  board  of  these 
vessels,  and  fed  on  salt  provisions  in  this  climate  in 
the  jnonths  of  October  and  November,  they  natural- 
ly generated  a  putrid  fever  from  the  human  miasma- 
This  soon  became  highly  contagious.  The  sick 
brought  into  the  general  hospital  from  the  prison- 


400 

ships,  generally  died  in  the  course  of  two  or  three 
days,  with  all  the  marks  of  a  septic  state.  Applica- 
tion was  made  by  Mr.  de  Rosettee,  th«  British 
commibsary  of  prisoners  ;  the  vast  increase  of  the 
numbers  of  deaths  was  pointed  out,  and  he  was  re- 
quested to  have  proper  steps  taken  to  check  the  pro- 
gress of  a  disorder  that  threatened  to  destroy  the 
whole  of  the  prisoners. 

IN  consequence  of  this  application,    Mr.  Fisher, 
our  commissary  of  prisoners,  and  Mr.  Fraser,  who 
formerly  practised  physic  in  this  country,  but  then 
acted  as  a  British  deputy  commissary,  were  ordered 
to  inspect  the  state  of  the  prisoners  in  the  vessels. 
This  report  confirmed  the  truth  of  what  had  been  ad- 
vanced... this  can  be  proved  by  a  very  particular  cir- 
cumstance....My  hopes  were  very  sanguine  that  some- 
thing would  be  done  for  the  relief  of  those  unhappy 
persons,  but  they  were  entirely  frustrated  by  a  per- 
son from  whom  I  did  not,  and  ought  not  to  have  ex- 
pected it.     Dr.  John  M-Namara  Hays,  physician  to 
the  British  army,  a  person  who  had  been  taken  by 
the  Americans  on  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  who  had 
received  the  politest  treatment  from  the  Americans 
when  a  prisoner,  and  who  had  the  generosity  to  ac- 
knowledge the  usage  he  had  met  with...this  person 
was  ordered  to  report  on  the  state  of  the  prisoners... 
to  my  astonishment,  I  was  informed  his  report  was, 
that   the    prison-ships  were  not  crouded,    perfectly 


wholesome,  and  no  appearance  of  infectious  disor- 
ders amongst  the  prisoners. 

I  THEN  determined  to  make  one  more  effort  for 
the  relief  of  these  unhappy  persons...for  this  purpose 
I  had  two  of  the  dead  bodies  kept  in  the  area  of  the 
hospital,  and,  upon  Doctor  Hays'  daily  visit  to  our 
hospital,  I  marked  to  him  the  appearances  of  the  sub- 
jects, whose  bodies  were  highly  tinged  with  a  yellow 
suffusion,  petechied  over  the  breast  and  trunk,  with 
considerable  ecchymosis  from  extravasated  or  dis- 
solved blood  about  the  neck,  breast  and  upper  extre- 
mities. I  inquired  if  it  was  possible  a  doubt  could  re- 
main respecting  the  nature  of  their  disorder,  and  ex- 
pressed my  surprise  at  the  report  he  had  made.  The 
words  of  his  reply  were,  '  that  the  confinement  of  the 
'  prisoners  in  prison-ships  was  the  great  eye- sore, 
1  and  there  was  no  help  for  that,  it  must  be  done.' 
The  disorder  in  consequence  continued  until  the 
cold  weather ;  the  number  of  deaths,  joined  with  the 
number  that  were  compelled  by  this  treatment  to  in- 
list  with  the  British,  removed  in  a  great  measure  the 
cause.  Hitherto  a  number  of  our  prisoners  who  were 
tradesmen  had  been  permitted  to  remain  in  the  bar- 
racks, or  in  the  city,  where  they  were  employed  by 
the  British—about  the  month  of  January,  1781,  they 
were  all  confined  to  the  barracks,  and  there  British 
emissaries  were  very  busy  amongst  them,  to  persuade 
them  to  inlist  in  their  new  corps.  About  the  same 


403 

time  a  strpply  of  clothing,  and  some  money  to  pro- 
cure necessaries,  arrived  from  the  Congress  for  the 
use  of  the  prisoners. 

MR.  Fisher,  our  commissary,  was  prevented  from 
distributing  the  clothing,  and  the  prisoners  were  in- 
formed it  was  a  deception,  for  no  supplies  had  arrived 
for  thtir  use.  Their  motive  \vas,  that  by  the  com- 
plicated distress  of  nakedness  and  imprisonment, 
tneir  patience  would  be  exhausted,  and  inlistment 
with  them  would  ensue. 

To  prevent  this,  means  were  found  to  have  se- 
veral bales  of  the  clothing  brought  to  the  picquets 
•which  inclosed  the  barracks,  and  in  sight  of  our  sol- 
diers ;  this  measure  established  the  fact. 

DISAPPOINT fcD  from  this  quarter,  the  British 
commandant  or  his  ministers  determined  to  observe 
no  measures  but  what  would  accomplish  their  own 
purposes.  All  the  soldiers  in  the  barracks,  includ- 
ing the  convalescents,  were  paraded,  and  harangued 
by  Fraser,  the  British  deputy  commissary,  and  one 
Low,  a  recruiting  officer  for  one  of  the  British  corps. 
The  conclusion  of  the  affair  was,  that  such  as  chose 
to  inlist  with  the  British  should  leave  the  ranks,  and 
the  remainder  go  on  board  of  the  prison-ships.  A 
few  who  had  been  previously  engaged  withdrew  from 
the  ranks  ;  the  large  majority  that  stood  firm,  after 
three  different  solicitations  without  effect,  had  this 
dreadftil  sentence  pronounced  (by  Fraser,  « that  they 


403 

'  should  be  put  on  board  of  the  prison-ships,  where 
'  they  could  not  expect  any  thing  more  but. to  perish 
„  *  miserably ;  and  that  the  rations  hitherto  allowed 
*  for  the  support  of  their  wives  and  children,  from 
4  that  day  should  be  withheld ;  the  consequence  of 
1  which  would  be,  they  must  starve  in  the  streets.* 

HUMAN  nature  recoiled  from  so  horrid  a  declara- 
tion...for  a  few  seconds  the  unhappy  victims  seemed 
stupified  at  the  dreadful  prospect ;  a  gloomy  and  uni- 
versal silence  prevailed. ...This  was  followed  by  a  loud 
huzza  for  General  Washington ;  death  and  the  pri- 
son-ships was  the  unanimous  determination. 

THE  hospital  at  this  time  was  reduced  to  the  great- 
est distress  imaginable.. .the  sick  without  clothing, 
covering,  or  any  necessary  but  one  pound  of  beef  and 
bread.. .very  little  sugar,  no  wine,  and  rarely  a  small 
allowance  of  rum. 

WE  had  no  resources,  and  the  British  would  only 
furnish  the  absolute  necessaries  of  life.  The  officers 
of  the  hospital,  on  the  mildest  representation,  were 
threatened  and  insulted,  frequently  prohibited  from 
risking  the  sick,  once  I  remember  for  three  days. 

IT  was  scarcely  possible  for  men  to  support  such  an 
accumulated  load  of  misery ;  but  when  least  expect- 
ed, a  relief  was  administered  to  us.  A  subscription 
for  the  support  of  the  sick  was  filled  by  people  of 
every  denomination  with  amazing  rapidity.  Several 
of  the  ladies  of  Charlestown,  laying  aside  the  distinc- 


401 

tion  of  Whig  and  Tory,  were  instrumental  and  assi- 
duous in  procuring  and  preparing  every  necessary  of 
clothing  and  proper  nourishment  for  our  poor,  worn- 
out  and  desponding  soldiers. 

THUS,  sir,  I  have  furnished  you  with  some  of  the 
most  material  occurrences  of  that  unhappy  time.  I 
have  not  exaggerated  or  written  a  single  circumstance 
from  hatred  or  prejudice.  I  could  furnish  you  with 
a  long  detail  of  cruelty  and  distress  exercised  on  in- 
dividuals.... Major  Bocquet's  case,  exposed  in  an  open 
boat  for  twelve  hours  in  a  violent  fever,  with  a  blister- 
ing plaster  on  his  back,  extended  at  length  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  boat,  then  put  into  the  dungeon  of  the  pro- 
vost with  the  vilest  felons  and  murderers,1  left  to  lan- 
guish under  his  complaint  until  his  death  seemed 
morally  certain,  only  released  from  his  confinement 
from  the  dread  of  a  just  retaliation. ..the  moment  his 
recovery  seemed  probable,  again  hurried  back  to  the 
provost,  there  to  remain  until  the  general  exchange 
released  him  from  their  power. 

THIS  instance  of  severity  exercised  on  an  indivi- 
dual, whose  only  crime  was  a  steady  attachment  to 
the  cause  of  his  country,  and  a  determined  resolu- 
tion to  keep  sacred  the  solemn  oath  he  had  taken  in 
its  cause,  would  appear  as  nothing,  were  I  to  enu- 
merate the  scenes  of  woe  and  distress  brought  on 
many  citizens  of  this  once  happy  country,  by  British 
cruelty  and  unnecessary  severity.  I  am  sure  every 


405 

breast  would  be  softened,  even  tears  would  fall  from 
British  eyes. 

I  am,  sir,  with  esteem;  yours,  Sec. 

P.  FAYSSOUX. 

NOTE  XXIX.     PAGE  296. 
BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  CONGRESS  ASSEMBLED, 

October  29th,   1781. 

RESOLVED,  that  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled,  be  presented  to  Major  General 
Greene,  for  his  wise,  decisive  and  magnanimous 
conduct  in  the  action  of  the  eighth  of  September  last, 
near  the  Eutaw  Springs,  in  South  Carolina ;  in  which, 
with  a  force  inferior  in  number  to  that  of  the  enemy, 
he  obtained  a  most  signal  victory. 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  be  presented  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Maryland  and  Virginia  brigades,  and  Delaware  bat- 
talion of  continental  troops,  for  the  unparalleled  bra- 
very and  heroism  by  them  displayed,  in  advancing  to 
the  enemy  through  an  incessant  fire,  and  charging 
them  with  an  impetuosity  and  ardor  that  could  not 
be  resisted. 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  be  presented  to  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  legionary  corps  and  artillery,  for  their  intrepid 
and  gallant  exertions  during  the  action. 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
vol..  XL  3  F 


406 

assembled,  be  presented  to  the  brigade  of  North  Ca- 
rolina, for  their  resolution  and  perseverance  in  attack- 
ing the  enemy,  and  sustaining  a  superior  fire. 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in  Congress 
assembled,  be  presented  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
state  corps  of  South  Carolina,  for  the  zeal,  activity 
and  firmness  by  them  exhibited  throughout  the  en- 
gagement. 

THAT  the  thanks  of  the  United  in  Congress  assem- 
bled, be  presented  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  mi- 
litia, who  formed  the  front  line  in  the  order  of  battle, 
and  sustained  their  post  with  honor,  propriety,  and  a 
resolution  worthy  of  men  determined  to  be  free. 

RESOLVED,  that  a  British  standard  be  presented  to 
Major  General  Greene,  as  an  honorable  testimony  of 
his  merit,  and  a  golden  medal  emblematical  of  the 
battle  and  victory  aforesaid. 

THAT  Major  General  Greene  be  desired  to  present 
the  thanks  of  Congress  to  Captains  Pierce  and  Pen- 
dleton,  Major  Hyrne  and  Captain  Shubrick,  his  aids- 
de-camp,  in  testimony  of  their  particular  activity  and 
good  conduct  during  the  whole  of  the  action. 

THAT  a  sword  be  presented  to  Captain  Pierce,  who 
bore  the  general's  dispatches,  giving  an  account  of 
the  victory,  and  that  the  board  of  war  take  order 
herein. 

RESOLVED,  that  the  thanks  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled,  be  presented  to  Brigadier  Ge- 


4or 

neral  Marion,  of  the  South  Carolina  militia,  for  his 
wise,  gallant  and  decided  conduct,  in  defending  the 
liberties  of  his  country,  and  particularly  for  his  pru- 
dent  and  intrepid  attack  on  a  body  of  the  British 
troops,  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  August  last,  and  for 
the  distinguished  part  he  took  in  the  battle  of  the 
eighth  of  September. 

Extract  from  the  minutes, 

CHARLES  THOMSON,  Secretary. 

NOTE  XXX.    PAGE  303. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

By  his  Excellency  JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  Esq.  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  said  State. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS  many  persons  taking  advantage  of  the 
late  disturbed  and  unsettled  condition  of  the  state, 
and  hoping  in  the  confusion  and  disorder  occasioned 
by  the  calamities  of  war  to  escape  punishment,  have 
committed  the  most  wanton  and  rapacious  acts  of 
plundering ;  some  under  color  of  indemnifying  them- 
selves for  losses  they  have  sustained  ;  others,  under 
pretence  that  the  persons  to  whom  such  property  be- 
longed are  Tories  or  enemies  of  the  state;  and  others, 
from  a  wicked  and  inordinate  desire  of  acquiring 
vrealth  by  any  means,  however  unjustifiable,  and 
from  any  persons,  whether  friends  or  foes :  and 
whereas  the  public  safety  requires  that  the  most  ef* 


408 

fcctual  measures  should  be  taken  for  suppressing 
such  an  unwarrantable  and  pernicious  practice,  inas- 
much as  good  and  faithful  subjects  should  be  secured 
and  protected  in  the  full  and  free  enjoyment  of  their 
property,  and  no  man,  although  criminal,  should  be 
despoiled  of  his  estate  but  by  due  course  of  law :  I 
have  therefore  thought  fit  to  issue  this  proclamation, 
strictly  forbidding  all  persons  from  plundering,  tak- 
ing, or  holding  the  property  of  others   under   any 
pretence,  or  for  any  cause  whatever;  warning  per- 
sons possessed  of  such  property,  of  the  danger  which 
they  will   incur  by  continuing  to  withhold  it,  and 
charging  them  immediately  to  restore  such  property 
to  the  owners  of  it,  unless  such  owners  are  with  the 
enemy ;  and  in  that  case,  to  deliver  it  to  the  briga- 
dier general  of  the  district  in  which  it  is,  as  they 
will  answer  the   contrary  at  their  peril ;  for  speedy 
and  effectual  punishment  shall  be  inflicted  on  the  of- 
fenders :  and  I  do  direct  all  justices  of  the  peace  di- 
ligently and  faithfully  to  execute  their  office,  and  to 
use  all  lawful  means  that  may  be  necessary  for  ap- 
prehending, securing,  and  bringing  to  justice  such 
persons  as  are  or  may  be  accused  of  the  above-men- 
tioned, or  any  other  criminal  offence.     I  do  more- 
over command  all  military  officers  of  this  state  to 
give  such  aid  and  assistance  to  the  civil  magistrates, 
as  they  may  require  for  that  purpose:  and  I  do  ex- 
hort all  those  who  know,  or  have  reason  to  believe, 


409 

where  any  plundered  property  is  concealed  or  se- 
creted, or  by  whom  it  is  possessed,  to  make  discovery 
and  give  information  touching  the  same  to  the  near- 
est magistrate,  in  order  that  proper  steps  may  be 
taken  for  the  recovery  thereof. 

GIVEN  under  my  hand  and  the  Great  Seal,  at  the 
High  Hills  of  Santee,  this  fifth  day  of  August,  1781} 
and  in  the  sixth  year  of  the  independence  of  America. 

JOHN  RUTLEDGE. 
By  his  Excellency's  command, 

JOHN  SANDFORD  DART,  Pro.  Secretary. 

/ 
NOTE  XXXI.    PAGE  303. 

•  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

By  his  Excellency  JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  Esq.  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  said  State. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS  the  forces  of  the  United  States  having 
compelled  the  troops  of  his  Britannic  majesty  to 
surrender  or  evacuate  the  several  strong  posts  which 
they  held  in  the  upper  and  interior  settlements,  and 
retreat  to  the  vicinity  of  Chaiiestown ;  and  the  enemy, 
being  therefore  unable  to  give  that  protection  and 
support  which  they  promised  to  their  adherents,  left 
many  inhabitants  of  this  state,  who  had  taken  up 
arms  with  them,  induced  so  to  do  by  their  artful  re- 
presentations, to  become  victims  to  their  injured 
country;  whereupon,  such  persons,  to  escape  or  avoid 


410 

the  effects  of  its  just  resentment,  followed  and  remain 
with  the  British  army,  or  lurk  and  conceal  themselves 
in  secret  places:  and  whereas  the  commandant  of 
Charlestown  having  sent  beyond  sea  the  wives  and 
families,  which  were  in  the  said  town,  of  all  the 
avowed  friends  of  America;  the  several  brigadiers 
of  militia  were  ordered,  as  a  retaliation  of  such  treat- 
ment, ^o  send  the  wives  and  families,  within  their 
respective  districts,  of  all  persons  who  had  joined  or 
adhered  to,  and  remained  with  the  enemy,  into  their 
lines :  and  whereas  it  is  represented  to  me,  in  behalf 
of  the  unhappy  men  who  are  with  the  British  troops 
or  secreting  themselves  as  aforesaid,  that  they  are 
now  convinced,  being  reduced  with  their  families  to 
great  distress  and  poverty,  that  they  relied  on  false 
and  specious  engagements,  and  were  flattered  with 
vain  expectations  and  delusive  hopes,  and  that  they 
are  therefore  anxious,  if  they  may  be  admitted,  to 
return  to  their  allegiance,  and  use  their  utmost  ex- 
ertions to  support  American  independence.  On 
duly  weighing  and  considering  the  premises,  I  have 
thought  fit,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  privy  council,  to  issue  this  proclamation,  offer- 
ing, and  I  do  hereby  offer,  to  all  persons  who  have 
borne  arms  with  the  enemy,  and  who  now  adhere 
to  or  arc  with  them  in  this  state,  or  are  lurking  or 
concealing  themselves  in  secret  places  in  any  part 
of  the  state,  a  FULL  and  FREE  PARDON  and 


OBLIVION,  for  such  their  offence  of  having  borne 
arms  with,  or  adhered  to  the  enemy,  upon  the  con- 
ditions following:  that  is  to  say,  that  such  persons 
do,  and  shall,  within  thirty  days  after  the  date  here- 
of, surrender  themselves  to  a  brigadier  of  the  militia 
of  this  state,  and  engage  to  perform  constant  duty  as 
privates,  in  the  militia,  for  six  months  next  ensuing 
the  time  of  such  surrender,  and  that  they  actually  per- 
form such  duty.  And  I  do  further  offer  to  the  wives 
and  children  of  such  persons,  upon  their  husbands 
or  parents  complying  with  the  condition  first  above- 
mentioned,  license  and  permission  to  return  to  their 
habitations,  and  to  hold  and  enjoy  their  property  in 
this  state  without  molestation  or  interruption.  Pro- 
vided always,  that  if  such  persons  shall  desert  from 
the  militia  service  within  the  time  above  limited,  their 
families  shall  be  immediately  sent  into  the  enemy's 
lines,  and  neither  they  or  their  husbands  or  parents, 
suffered  to  return  to,  or  reside  in  this  state.  Never- 
theless, I  do  except,  from  the  pardon  hereby  offered, 
and  from  every  benefit  of  this  proclamation,  all  such 
persons,  as  having  gone  over  to,  or  joined  the  ene- 
my, were  called  upon  by  me  in  and  by  two  several 
proclamations,  to  surrender  themselves  to  a  magistrate 
within  forty  days  after  the  respective  dates  of  those 
proclamations,  in  pursuance  of  an  ordinance,  entitled, 
*  An  ordinance  to  prevent  persons  withdrawing  from 
«  the  defence  of  this  state,  to  join  the  enemies  there- 


412 

'  of:'  all  such  as  were  sent  off  or  obliged  to  quit  the 
state  for  refusing  to  take  the  oath  required  of  them 
by  law,  who  have  returned  to  this  country ;  all  those 
who  subscribed  a  congratulatory  address,  bearing 
date  on  or  about  the  fifth  day  of  June,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  eighty,  to  General  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and  Vice-Admiral  Arbuthnot,  or 
another  address,  bearing  date  on  or  about  the  nine- 
teenth day  of  September,  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty,  to  Lieutenant  General  Earl  Corn- 
wallis;  all  such  as  hold  or  have  held  any  commis- 
sion, civil  or  military,  under  the  British  government, 
and  are  now  with  the  enemy;  and  all  those  whose 
conduct  has  been  so  infamous,  as  that  they  can- 
not, consistently  with  justice  or  policy,  be  admitted 
to  partake  of  the  privileges  of  Americans.  Notwith- 
standing which  last  mentioned  exception,  such  per- 
sons, if  they  should  be  deemed  by  me,  or  the  gover- 
nor and  commander  in  chief  for  the  time  being,  inad- 
missable  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  subjects,  will 
not  be  detained  as  prisoners,  but  shall  have  full  and 
free  liberty,  and  a  pass  or  permit  to  return.  At  a 
juncture,  when  the  force  of  the  enemy  in  this  state, 
though  lately  considerable,  is  greatly  reduced  by  the 
many  defeats  which  they  have  suffered,  and  particu- 
larly in  the  late  important  action  at  Eutaw;  when 
they  are  dispossessed  of  every  post  and  garrison  ex- 
cept Charlestown;  when  the  formidable  fleet  of  his 


413 

most  Christian  majesty,  in  Chesapeak-bay,  and  the 
combined  armies  of  the  king  of  France  and  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  command  of  his  Excellency 

General  Washington,  in  Virginia,  afford  a  well- 
grounded  hope,  that,  by  the  joint  efforts  of  their  ar- 
mies, this  campaign  will  be  happily  terminated,  and 
the  British  power  in  every  part  of  the  confederate 
states,  soon  totally  annihilated ;  it  is  conceived,  that 
the  true  and  real  motive  of  the  offer  hereby  made, 
will  be  acknowledged.  It  must  be  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed, not  from  timidity,  to  which  the  enemy  affect 
to  attribute  every  act  of  clemency  and  mercy  on  our 
part,  but  from  a  wish  to  impress,  with  a  sense  of  their 
error,  and  to  reclaim  misguided  subjects,  and  give 
them  once  more  an  opportunity  of  becoming  valuable 
members  of  the  community,  instead  of  banishing 
them,  or  forever  cutting  them  off  from  it ;  for  even 
the  most  disaffected  cannot  suppose  that  the  brave 
and  determined  freemen  of  this  state  have  any  dread 
of  their  arms. 

WITH  the  persons  to  whom  pardon  is  thus  offered, 
the  choice  still  remains,  either  to  return  to  their  alle- 
giance, and,  with  their  families,  be  restored  to  the 
favor  of  their  country,  and  to  their  possessions,  or 
to  abandon  their  properties  in  this  state  forever,  and 
go  with  their  wives  and  children,  whither,  for  what 
purpose,  on  whom  to  depend,  or  how  to  subsist,  they 

know  noU.most  probably  to  experience^  in   some 
VOL.  ii.  3  G 


414 

strange  and  distant  country,  all  the  miseries  and  hor- 
rors of  beggary,  sickness  and  despair....This  alterna- 
tive is  now,  for  the  last  time,  submitted  to  their  judg- 
ment...it  will  never  be  renewed. 

GIVEN  under  my  hand  and  the  Great  Seal,  at  the 
High  Hills  of  Santee,  this  twenty-seventh  day  of  Sep- 
tember, in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty-one,  and  in  the  sixth  year  of  the 
independence  of  America. 

J.  RUTLEDGE. 

By  his  Excellency's  command, 
JOHN  SANHFORD  DART,  Sec'ry. 

NOTE  XXXII.    PAGE  320. 
CAMP,  SOUTHERN  ARMY,  HIGH  HILLS  OF  SANTEE, 

August  20th,   1781. 

THE  subscribers  commissioned  officers  serving  in 
the  southern  army,  beg  leave  to  represent  to  the 
honorable  Major  General  Greene,  that  they  are  in- 
formed, not  only  by  current  reports,  but  by  official 
and  acknowledged  authority,  that  contrary  to  express 
stipulations  in  the  capitulation  of  Charlestown,  signed 
the  twelfth  day  of  May,  1780,  a  number  of  very  re- 
spectable inhabitants  of  that  town  and  others  were 
confined  on  board  prison-ships,  and  sent  to  St.  Au- 
gustine, and  other  places  distant  from  their  homes, 
families  and  frie'nds.  That  notwithstanding  the  ge- 
neral cartel  settled  for  exchange  of  prisoners  in  the 


415 

southern  department,  and  agreed  to  the  third  of  May 
last,  several  officers  of  militia  and  other  gentlemen, 
subjects  of  the  United  States,  have  been,  and  still 
are  detained  in  captivity  ;  that  the  commanding  of- 
ficer of  the  British  troops  in  Charlestown,  regardless 
of  the  principles,  and  even  the  express  tenor  of  the 
said  cartel,  hath  not  only  presumed  to  discriminate 
between  the  subjects  of  the  United  States  prisoners 
of  war,  partially  determining  who  were  and  who 
were  not  objects  of  exchange,  but  hath  even  dared 
to  execute  in  the  most  ignominious  manner,  Colonel 
Hayne,  of  the  militia  of  the  state  of  South  Carolinai 
a  gentleman  amiable  in  character,  respectable  in  his 
connections,  and  of  eminent  abilities:  and  this  violent 
act,  as  cruel  as  it  was  unnecessary  and  unjust,  we 
are  informed,  is  attempted  to  be  justified  by  the  im- 
puted crime  of  treason,  founded  upon  the  unfortunate 
sufferer's  having,  in  circumstances  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing, accepted  of  what  is  called  a  protection  from 
the  British  government. 

IF  every  inhabitant  of  this  country,  who,  being 
bound  by  the  tender  ties  of  family-connections,  and 
fettered  by  domestic  embarrassments,  is  forced  to 
submit  to  the  misfortune  of  falling  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  must  therefore  become  a  subject  of  such 
inhuman  authority,  and  if  such  subjects  are  liable  to 
be  tried  by  martial  law  for  offences  against  the  said 
civil  government  of  the  British  nation,  their  situation  is 
truly  deplorable  j  but  we  conceive  forms  of  protection 


416 

which  are  granted  one  day,  and  retracted,  violated, 
disclaimed  or  deserted  the  next,  can  enjoin  no  such 
condition  or  obligation  upon  persons  who  accept 
them.  We  consider  the  citizens  of  America  as 
independent  of  the  government  of  Great  Britain  as 
those  of  Great  Britain  are  of  the  United  States,  or  of 
any  other  sovereign  power,  and  think  it  just  the 
severities  and  indulgences  to  prisoners  of  war  ought 
to  be  reciprocal.  We,  therefore,  with  submission,  beg 
leave  to  recommend,  that  a  strict  inquiry  be  made 
into  the  several  matttrs  mentioned,  and  if  ascertained, 
that  you  will  be  pleased  to  retaliate  in  the  most 
effectual  manner  by  a  similar  treatment  of  British 
subjects  which  are  or  may  be  in  your  power. 

PERMIT  us  to  add,  that  while  we  seriously  lament 
the  necessity  of  such  a  severe  expedient,  and  com- 
miserate the  sufferings  to  which  individuals  will 
necessarily  be  exposed,  we  are  not  unmindful  that 
such  a  measure  may  in  its  consequences,  involve  our 
own  lives  in  additional  dangers  ;  but  we  had  rather 
forego  temporary  distinctions,  and  commit  ourselves 
to  the  most  desperate  situations  than  prosecute  this 
just  and  necessary  war  upon  terms  so  unequal  and 
so  dishonorable. 

We  are,  sir,  with  the  greatest  regard, 

and  most  respectful  sentiments  of  esteem, 
your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servants. 

[Signed  by  all  the  officers  of  the  army.] 
The  Honorable  Major  General 


417 

NOTE  XXXIII.    PAGE  320. 

PROCLAMATION. 

By  NATHANIEL  GREENE,  Esq.  Major  General,  com- 
manding the  American  Army  in  the  Southern 
Department. 

WHEREAS  Colonel  Isaac  Hayne,  commanding  a 
regiment  of  militia  in  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
was  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  British  troops,  and 
after  a  rigorous  detention  in  the  Provost's  prison  at 
Charlestown,  was  condemned  and  executed  on  the 
fourth  of  this  month,  in  the  most  cruel  and  unjustifi- 
able manner,  in  open  violation  of  the  cartel  agreed 
upon  between  the  two  armies,  for  the  release  and 
exchange  of  all  prisoners  of  war;  and  it  being  no 
less  the  duty  than  the  inclination  of  the  army  to  re- 
sent every  violence  offered  to  the  good  citizens  of 
America,  to  discountenance  all  those  distinctions 
which  they  have  endeavored  to  establish,  in  making 
a  difference  in  various  orders  of  men,  fonnd  under 
arms  for  the  support  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States ;  and  further  considering  that  these  vir 
olences  are  committed  with  a  view  of  terrifying  the 
good  people,  and  by  that  means  preventing  them 
from  acting  in  conformity  with  their  political  interests 
and  private  inclinations ;  and  that  this  method  of  trying 
and  punishing,  in  consequence  of  those  distinctions,  is 
no  less  opposite  to  the  spirit  of  the  British,  than  it  is 
inclusive  of  an  unwarrantable  infringement  of  all  the 


418 

laws  of  humanity,  and  the  rights  of  the  free  citizens 
of  the  United  States  ;  from  these  considerations  I 
have  thought  proper  to  issue  the  present  proclama- 
tion, expressly  to  declare,  '  that  it  is  my  intention 
*  to  make  reprisals  for  all  such  inhuman  insults,  as 
often  as  they  shall  take  place.'  And  whereas  the 
enemy  seems  willing  to  expose  the  small  number  of 
the  deceived  and  seduced  inhabitants,  who  are  attach- 
ed to  their  interests,  if  they  can  but  find  an  opportu- 
nity of  sacrificing  the  great  number  that  have  stood 
forth  in  defence  of  our  cause ;  I  farther  declare,  '  that 
'  it  is  my  intention  to  take  the  officers  of  the  regular 
'  forces,  and  not  the  seduced  inhabitants  who  have 
'  joined  their  army,  for  the  objects  of  my  reprisals.'... 
But  while  I  am  determined  to  resent  every  insult  that 
may  be  offered  to  the  United  States  for  having  main- 
tained our  independence,  I  cannot  but  lament  the  ne- 
cessity I  am  under  of  having  recourse  to  measures  so 
extremely  wounding  to  the  sentiments  of  humanity, 
and  so  contrary  to  the  liberal  principles  upon  which 
I  wish  to  conduct  the  war. 

GIVEN  at  the  head-quarters  at  Camden,  twenty- 
sixth  of  August,  1781,  in  the  sixth  year  of  American 
independence. 

(Signed)  NATHANIEL  GREENE.' 

•   ••• 


v' 

419 

NOTE  XXXIV.     PAGE  341. 

ARTICLES  of  TREATY  between  General  MARION,  in 
behalf  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  and  Major 
GANEY,  and  the  inhabitants  under  his  command, 
which  were  included  in  the  Treaty  made  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  June,  1781. 

ARTICLE  I.  Major  Ganey  and  the  men  under  his 
command  to  lay  down  their  arms,  as  enemies  to  the 
state,  and  are  not  to  resume  them  again  until  ordered 
to  do  so,  in  support  of  the  interest  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  this  state  in  particular. 

II.  WE  will  deliver  up  all  negroes,  horses,  cattle, 
and  other  property  that  have  been  taken  from  this  or 
any  other  state. 

III.  WE  will  demean  ourselves  as  peaceable  citi- 
zens of  this  state,  and  submit  ourselves  to  be  go- 
verned by  its  laws,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  rest  of 
the  citizens  thereof. 

IV.  WE  do  engage  to  apprehend  and  deliver  up  all 
persons  within  our  district,  who  shall  refuse  to  accede 
to  these  terms,  and  contumaciously  persist  in  rebel- 
lion against  this  state. 

V.  WE  will  deliver  up  as  soon  as  possible,  every 
man  who  belongs  to  any  regular  line  in  the  Ameri- 
can service,  and  every  inhabitant  of  North  Carolina, 
of  this,  or  any  other  state,  who  have  joined  us  since 
the  seventeenth  of  June,  1781,  when  the  former  treaty 
was  made,  or  oblige  them  to  go  out  of  the  district, 


420 

and  whenever  they  return,  to  take  and  deliver  them 
into  safe  custody  in  any  gaol  within  the  state. 

VI.  EVERY  man  is  to  sign  an  instrument  of  writ- 
ing professing  his  allegiance  to  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  the  state  of  South  Carolina  in  particu- 
lar ;  and  to  abjure  his  Britannic  majesty,  his  heirs, 
successors  and  adherents,  and  promise  to  oppose  all 
the  enemies  of  the  United  States,  and  the  state  of 
South  Carolina  in  particular. 

VII.  ALL  arms,  ammunition,  and  other  warlike 
stores,  the  property  of  the  British,  to  be  delivered  up. 

VIII.  THE  above  seven  articles  being  agreed  on, 
they  shall  have  a  full  pardon  for  treasons  committed 
by  them  against  the  state,  and  enjoy  their  property, 
and  be  protected  by  the  laws  thereof. 

IX.  SUCH  men  who  do  not  choose  to  accede  to  these 
articles,    shall   have  leave  to  go  within  the   British 
lines,  and  to  march  by  the  twenty-fifth  instant,  and 
be   safely  conducted  with  such  of  their  wives  and 
children  as  may  be  able  to  travel,  and  carry  or  sell 
their  property,  except  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  which 
they  may  dispose  of^  but  not  carry  with  them.    Such 
women  and  children  who  cannot  be  removed,  may 
remain  until  the  first  day  of  September  next.     The 
officers  to  keep  their  pistols  and  side-arms  ;  all  other 
arms  to  be  disposed  of,  and  not  carried  with  them. 
Each  field-officer  and  captain  to  retain  one  horse,  not 
exceeding  twelve  in  the  whole,  and  no  other  person 


421 

to  take  with  him  any  more  horses  that  may  be  fit  for 
dragoon  service  within  the  British  lines. 

WE  have  agreed  to  the  before-mentioned  nin^e  ar- 
ticles, and  have  signed  the  same  at  Birch's-mill,  on 
Peedee,  this  eighth  day  of  June,  1782. 

FRANCIS  MARIOK, 

Brigadier  General, 
State  of  South  Carolina. 
MICAJAH  GANEY, 
Major  Loyalists,  Peedee. 

NOTE  XXXV.  PAGE  341. 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  August  13th. 
SIB, 

THE  measure  which  I  lately  adopted,  of  send- 
ing a  force  to  collect  provisions  on  the  Lower  Santee, 
for  the  use  of  this  garrison,  was  a  necessary  conse- 
quence of  the  conduct  your  party  had  thought  pro- 
per to  observe,  in  the  prohibitions  which  prevented 
our  receiving  supplies  of  the  kind  from  the  country. 
FROM  the  respect  which  I  owe  to  the  sentiments 
which  appear  to  govern  the  present  conduct  of  Great 
Britain  towards  America,  I  should  have  given  a  will- 
ing preference  to  any  means  less  distressful  to  the 
country,  by  which  this  necessary  purpose  might  have 
been  obtained  ;  I  am  equally  desirous  to  forbear  the 
further  prosecution  of  these  measures  ;  and  am  rea- 
dy to  enter  with  you  into  any  composition  to  that  ef- 

YOL.  II*  3  H 


422 

feet,  which  may,  I  think,  be  established  on  terms  to 
the  mutual  advantage  of  both  parties,  affording  to  us 
a  supply  to  our  future  necessities,  and  to  you  securi- 
ty from  further  depredation,  and  a  voluntary  com- 
pensation for  what  the  force  of  arms  has  already  given 
us  in  possession.  The  success  which  has  attended 
this  enterprize  must  convince  you,  that  principles  of 
benevolence  and  humanity  are  the  true  motives  of  a 
conduct,  the  moderation  of  which  must  appear  strik- 
ing to  you. 

I  HOPE  these  considerations  will  induce  you  to  ac- 
cept a  proposal  so  evidently  advantageous  to  the  in- 
terests of  your  own  party  ;  and  that  you  will  in  con- 
sequence order  rice  and  other  provisions  to  be  sent 
into  town,  in  quantities  proportioned  to  our  demand, 
which  will  be  considerable,  from  the  necessity  of  sup- 
plying the  king's  subjects  wh«  may  think  proper  to 
remove  from  hence  to  the  province  of  East-Florida. 

IF,  notwithstanding  these  offers,  you  think  proper 
to  adhere  to  your  former  line  of  conduct,  the  neces- 
sity which  constrains  will  justify  the  measures  which 
I  shall  be  forced  to  take. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX,  LBSLII. 

To  Major  General  GREENE. 

THK   END. 


423 

[As  the  author  of  the  Memoirs  has  not  arranged  bis 
work  under  any  particular  divisionary  beads  or  chap- 
ters, but  has  pursued  bis  work  through  one  unbroken 
•narrative,  the  publisher,  to  facilitate  tbe  turning  to  any 
particular  passage  rf  conscqu,  nee  tbe  reader  may  occa- 
sionally wish  to  peruse,  has  annexed  tbe  following  table 
of  contents,  referring  to  tbe  pages,  and  pointing  out  inhere 
tbe  relations  of  tbe  most  prominent  events  may  be  exa- 
mined,'] 

CONTENTS. 


VOL.  I. 

FACE 

BOSTON  resolutions  for  a  general  non-im- 
portation received  at  Charlestown — Pro- 
ceedings thereupon — A  provincial  Con- 
gress appointed  in  South  Carolina— Jour- 
nal of  their  proceedings — Bill  of  rights 
— Association  of  the  delegates  of  the 
twelve  provinces — Their  resolutions — 
Address  of  the  South  Carolina  Provin- 
cial Congress  to  Governor  Bull— His 

answer— Resolutions    thereupon— Con- 

9      5i 
gress  adjourns, 

Meeting  of  the  Provincial  Congress — 
Bishop  Smith's  discourse  on  the  occa- 
sion— Formation  of  the  militia  uniform 
Lompanies— Scarcity  of  arms  and  am- 
munition— The  committee  take  posses* 


sion  of  the  public  mail  from  England—        WAGE 
The  Provincial  Congress  summoned  to 
meet — Their  resolution  to  raise  a  regi- 
ment  of  cavalry    rangers — Arrival   of 
Lord  William  Campbell — His  conversa- 
tion with  Captain  M'Donald — Charac- 
ter of  the  latter— His  visit  to  St.  Augus- 
tine— His  narrow   escape — Lord    Wil- 
liam Campbell  goes  on  board  the  Tamar 
sloop-of-war — Meeting  of  the    Council 
of  Safety — William  Moultric,  Esq.  ap- 
pointed Colonel    of  the    2d  regiment 
of  provincial    troops — Meeting  of    the 
Georgia  Congress — The  provincials  take 
1 7000  Ibs.  powder  from  a  vessel  off  St. 
Augustine — Recruiting  parties  sent  into 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  56 — 80 

The  Council  of  Safety  send  a  talk  to  the 
Catawba  Indians — Dorchester  made  an 
armed  post — Fort  Johnson  taken  posses- 
sion of — Public  stores,  records,  &c. 
sent  to  Dorchester — Presents  sent  to 
the  Cherokees  to  prevent  an  Indian 
war — Taken  by  the  Tories — Hostilities 
began  by  sinking  two  British  schooners 
near  Hogg-Island — Charlestown  blocked 
up  by  British  ships  of  war — All  supplies 
from  the  city  denied  them — The  Ame- 


ricans  take  possession  of  Sulli van  VIsland  PAGE 
—Colonel  Gadsden  takes  command  of 
the  Carolina  troops — Institution  of  the 
South  Cantlina  General  Assembly—. 
Their  constitution — Mr.  Rutledge's  ad- 
dress.— General  Armstrong  takes  com- 
mand of  the  South  Carolina  troops — A 
British  fleet  arrives  off  the  coast  of  South 
Carolina—General  Lee  arrives  from  the 
northward,  80 — 144 

General  Lee's  orders  to  attack  the  British 
on  Long-Island— 'Countermanded — Or- 
ders to  detach  a  body  of  troops  to  the 
main — General  Lee's  particular  orders 
to  Colonel  Moultrie,  relative  to  mili- 
tary discipline — Letters  to  Colonel 
Moultrie  on  the  projected  bridge  be- 
tween Sullivan's-Island  and  the  main, 
and  other  occupations  in  that  quarter — 
Letter  from  President  Rutledge — From 
General  Lee — Returning  thanks  for  the 
brave  defence  of  Sullivan's-Island — Let- 
ters to  and  from  General  Lee,  General 
Gadsden,  and  Colonel  Moultrie,  rela- 
tive to  the  military  transactions  on  Sul- 
livan's-Island— Account  of  the  British 
naval  attack  on  the  fort  at  Sullivan's- 
Island — Sergeant  Jasper  presented  with 


426 

a  sword — The  declaration  of  indepen-  PAGE 
dence  received  at  Charlestown — The 
siege  of  St.  Augustine  projected — An 
expedition  against  the  Cherokee  In- 
dians, 144—184 
The  Cherokee  Indians  sue  for  peace — Con- 
ditionally granted — General  Lee's  expe- 
dition against  St.  Augustine — Set  aside 
by  his  recal  to  the  northward — British 
attempt  to  attack  Savannah — Retreat — 
They  summon  Sunbury  fort,  but  de- 
cline an  attack — South  Carolina  troops 
recalled  from  Georgia — Captain  Biddle 
sent  on  a  cruize  with  the  Randolph  fri- 
gate, &c. — And  a  small  expedition  or- 
dered for  the  relief  of  Georgia — Captain 
Biddle's  squadron  sails  for  the  West  In- 
dies— The  event — The  British  cruizers 
quit  the  South  Carolina  coast — Dread- 
ful fire  in  Charlestown — New  state  con- 
stitution framing — Tories  embody,  and 
alarm  the  state—- The  Georgians  in  dan- 
ger, and  request  assistance  from  Soulh 
Carolina — Alexander  Gillon,  Esq.  and 
others,  commissioned  to  build  or  pur- 
chase three  frigates  in  France  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  coast — His  failure— Hires 
a  large  frigate  from  the  Duke  of  Lux- 


427 

emburgh — Sails  on  a  cruize — Reduces,  PACE 
on  a  junction  with  a  Spanish  force,  the 
Bahama  Islands — Arrives  at  Phila- 
delphia— Refits — The  frigate  taken  by 
the  British — Her  immense  loss  to  South 
Carolina,  184—211 

Distress  for  salt — Means  used  for  procur- 
ing supplies — Calamitous  situation  of 
the  Carolina  troops  in  Georgia — Colo- 
nel Pinckney  requests  supplies — Grant- 
ed— Reduction  of  the  American  army 
in  Georgia,  by  sickness — Relinquish  the 
expedition  against  St.  Augustine — Re- 
turn to  Savannah — Rumors  of  a  naval 
expedition  at  New- York,  against  Georgia 
— The  fleet  arrives  off  Tybee,  and  me- 
nace a  descent  upon  Savannah — Resolu- 
tion of  the  Americans  to  defend  the 
town — Reflections  on  that  determina- 
tion— Defeat  of  the  American  troops  at, 
and  loss  of  Savannah — General  Lincoln 
arrives  from  the  northward,  and  takes 
command  of  the  troops — Marches  them 
for  the  relief  of  Georgia — Arrive  at 
Purisburgh — Further  observations  on 
General  Howe's  endeavor  to  hold  Sa- 
vannah, 211—256 

Condition  of  the  American  troops  at  Pu- 


rUburgh— Distressed  situation  of  the  PAGE 
Georgia  refugees — Sunbury  taken — De- 
sertions of  the  Georgia  militia — De- 
signs of  the  British  troops  on  South 
Carolina — Letters  relative  to  the  opera- 
tions of  the  campaign — Instance  of  the 
licentious  conduct  of  the  militia — The 
consequent  difficulties  of  the  commander 
in  chief — West-India  prizes  brought  in- 
to Charlestown  by  American  cruizcrs— 
The  legislature  of  South  Carolina  grant 
bounties  for  the  inlistment,  and  raising 
the  pay  of  the  military — Election  of  ci- 
vil state  officers — The  law  ratified  for 
filling  the  continental  regiments,  256 — 288 

Various  letters  from  military  officers  rela- 
tive to  military  operations  and  events 
in  Soutlt  Carolina — Engagement  near 
Beaufort — The  Americans  retire,  from 
want  of  ammunition — General  Moultrie 
thanks  the  troops  for  their  gallant  be- 
havior—The enemy  penetrate  to  Augus- 
ta— Discontents  in  the  provincial  army, 
and  its  weak  condition — The  British  re- 
treat from  Augusta — A  body  of  five  hun- 
dred American  cavalry  from  the  back 
country  approach  Augusta — Different 
stations  of  the  American  army — Panic 


429 

of  the  Americans  under  General  Ash  at  PACE 
Brier-creek,  who  fly  from  seventeen 
hundred  of  the  enemy,  and  are  totally 
routed — Probable  consequences  of  this 
defeat — Attempts  to  set  fire  to  Charles- 
town — A  deserter  hanged — Description 
of  the  British  posts  in  Georgia,  288— S39 

A  court  of  inquiry  held  on  the  affair  at 
Brier-creek — Particulars  of  the  trial  and 
examinations — The  opinion  of  the  court 
— Opinion  of  a  court  of  inquiry  on  the 
evacuating   Port- royal-Island  fort — In- 
teresting letters  from  Colonel  Charles 
Pinckney  on  the  pending  events — Gene- 
ral Moultrie's  answer — Governor  Rut- 
ledge's  orders  to  General  Williamson 
respecting  incursions  into  Georgia — Co- 
lonel Provost's  propositions  relative  to 
a   partial   Georgia  neutrality — Captain 
Morgan   arrives   from  Eustatia  with  a 
supply  of  arms  and  ammunition — Colo- 
nel Marion  stationed  at  Fort  Moultrie— 
General  Lincoln  marches  two  thousand 
men  for  Augusta — His  orders  to  Gene- 
ral   Moultrie — Indian    incursions    into 
South  Carolina,  at  Yamasaee — The  ene- 
my collect  their  principal  force  at  Ebe- 
nezer — The  Americans  retreat  from  Pu- 

VOL.  II.  3  I 


430 

risburgh  in  consequence  of  the  British        PAGE 

• 
marching  to  that  place — General  Moul- 

trie  retreats  from  Black-swamp,  and 
takes  post  at  Coosohatchie,  in  conse- 
quence of  fifteen  hundred  British  reach- 
ing Purisburgh,  336—392 
Two  thousand  of  the  enemy  encamp  at 
Black-swamp— General  Moultrie  addres- 
ses General  Provost  in  favor  of  Ameri- 
can sick  prisoners — Barbarity  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Indians — General  Provost  an- 
swers General  Moultrie  in  behalf  of  the 
prisoners,  sick  and  wounded — The  lat- 
ter moves  his  camp  to  Tullifinny-hill — 
Colonel  Laurens  wounded — His  military 
character—General  Moultrie  arrives  at 
Ashepoo,  the  enemy  in  his  rear— Their 
devastations— General  Lincoln  detaches 
a  body  of  troops  from  Georgia  to  Ge- 
neral Moultrie's  assistance — General 
Moultrie  reaches  Charlestown— Conster- 
nation of  the  citizens— .The  militia 
march  into  the  town  from  different  parts 
of  the  country— Disposition  and  order 
of  the  troops— General  situation  of 
South  Carolina  at  this  period— Count 
Paulaski's infantry  arrive  at  Charlestown 
from  the  northward— He  attacks  the  ad- 


431 

vance  of  the  British  near  Charlestown— 
Overpowered— General  Provost's  army 
appears  at  the  gates  of  Charlestown— 
Their  progress  stopped — Major  Huger 
killed,  and  others— His  character,  392—424 

Military  orders  from  the  privy  council  of 
Charlestown  disputed  by  the  command- 
ing generals — The  command  devolves 
on  General  Moultrie — He  sends  a  flag 
to  General  ProVost,   and  requests    his 
terms  of  capitulation — General  Provost's 
reply — Th«  privy  council  summoned  to 
meet — Number  of  American  troops  at 
this  time  in  Charlestown,  and  the  num- 
ber of  the  besiegers— General  Moultrie 
disagrees  to  Provost's  terms,  and  re« 
quests  a  conference— Proposals  in  the 
privy  council  for  giving  up  the  town  on 
conditions  of  neutrality — A  message  to 
that  effect  sent  to  the  British  command- 
er—He refuses  to  treat  except  on  a  sur- 
render of  the  garrison  as  prisoners  of 
war — The  American  army  determined 
to  defend  the  town— The  retreat  of  the 
enemy,  who  cross  Ashley-river  in  the 
night — Followed  by  Paulaski's  cavalry —    , 
General    Lincoln   advances   with    four 
thousand  men  from  Georgia  for  the  re- 


432 

Hef  of  Chariestown,  of  which  the  enemy  PAGI 
had  been  informed  by  an  intercepted  letter 
—General  Lincoln  reaches  Edisto-mills 
— The  enemy  at  Ashley-river  and  James'- 
Island — Four  hundred  troops  detached 
to  General  Lincoln— The  British  army 
wholly  encamped  on  James'- Island — Ap- 
prehensions of  the  Americans  for  Fort 
Johnson — The  garrison  withdrawn  and 
guns  spiked  up— A  party  on  this  busi- 
ness.made  prisoners — Disposition  of  the 
armed  shipping  to  prevent  the  enemy 
crossing  to  Chariestown — Other  milita- 
ry land  dispositions — Guards  posted 
round  Chariestown  to  prevent  surp_rise-r- 
General  Lincoln  moves  to  Parker's-fcr- 
ry— General  Provost  passes  Stono*— Fur- 
ther movements  of  General  Lincoln— 
General  Provost  proposes  an  exchange 
of  prisoners— An  exchange  of  prisoners 
agreed  to,  424—456 

The  enemy's  main  body  continue  on  James'- 
Island — Arrangements   respecting   ex- 
changes of  officers,  Sec. — A  plan  of  at- 
tack  on  the  enemy  at    Stono-ferry  — 
Which  is  set  aside  on  finding  the  strength 
of  their  works — General  Lincoln  deter- 
mines to  retire  from  the  service,  from, 


433 

ill  health — Congress  appoint  General  PAGE 
Mouhrie  in  his  stead—American  breach 
of  verbal  paroles — The  enemy  move 
to  John's-Island — General  Moultrie  ar- 
rives at  Wappoo,  with  700  men— Ge- 
neral Lincoln  attacks  the  British  lines 
at  Stono -ferry — Retires— Particulars  of 
his  attack  and  retreat — An  attack  on  the 
enemy's  bridge  of  boats  at  Stono-ferry— 
Partial  success— The  enemy  abandon 
their  post  at  Stono-ferry,  456—506 


CONTENTS. 


VOL.  II. 

PACK 

THE  British  establish  a  strong  post  at 
Beaufort — The  Americans  unable  to 
prevent  them  for  want  of  boats— General 
Moultrie  re-lands  his  troops  from  James'- 
Island  at  Charlestown — Takes  th"e  com- 
mand of  the  southern  troops  at  Stono— 
Various  proceedings  relative  to  the  mi- 
litia, stores,  Sec. — A  general  exchange 
of  prisoners  contemplated — Obstruc- 
tions— Distress  of  the  Americans  for 
men  and  money— Particulars  of  Ser* 


434 

geant  William  Jasper— Disposition  of       PAGE 
the  British  forces  at  Port-royal- Island- 
Appearances  of  their  leaving  it — Count 
D'Estaing's  fleet  arrives  off  Savannah- 
bar— His  cannon   and    military    stores 
landed — Dispositions  made  for  an  attack 
on  Savannah — Particulai's  of  that  unfor- 
tunate affair,  1—36 
Military  orders  for  the  attack  on  Savan- 
nah—Repulse and  defeat  of  the  Ame- 
rican and  French  troops — Retreat  of  the 
Americans  to  Ebenezer-heights — Count 
D'Estaing re-embarks  and  leave s  the  coast 
of  America — The  British  army   to  the 
northward  turn  their  views  to  a  reduc- 
tion of  the    southern  states-— Admiral 
Arbuthnot's  fleet   arrives  off  Savannah, 
from  New-York,  and  land  an  army — 
The  enemy  approach  Ashley-ferry — Ge- 
neral MouUrie  returns  to  Charlestown  on 
account  of  ill  health — The  enemy  throw 
up  fortifications  at  the  mouth  of  Wappoo- 
creek — Seven  of  the  BritisJt  ships  pass 
over  Charlestown-bar — The  body  of  the 
fleet  approach  Fort  Moultrie — Disposi- 
tions for  opposing  them — Admiral  Ar- 
buthnot  takes  possession  of  Fort  Moul- 
trie—The  British  land-army  advance  to- 


435 

wards  Charlestown— On  April  Sd,  1780,  PACE 
they  approach  the  American  lines  and 
throw  up  works — A  skirmish — The  Bri- 
tish fleet  anchor  off  Fort  Johnson — The 
town  blocked  up — The  disposition  of  the 
artillery  intrusted  to  General  Moultrie 
— Journal  of  the  siege  of  Charlestown, 
(page  65) — Sir  Henry  Clinton's  sum- 
mons to  General  Lincoln  to  surrender 
the  town — The  General's  rcply — The 
British  open  their  batteries  on  Charles- 
town — A  flag  sent  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
— General  Lincoln's  proposals  for  a  ces- 
sation of  hostilities  for  six  hours — Gene- 
ral Lincoln's  proposed  articles  of  capitu- 
lation— A  council  of  war  called — They 
recommend  a  capitulation — The  British 
approaches  on  the  land  side  continue— 
They  receive  a  reinforcement  from  New- 
York — American  sortie  on  the  British— 
The  American  works  not  tenable  against 
the  besieging  force — Exertions  of  the 
Americans  to  defend  Charlestown — A 
second  summons  from  Sir  Henry  Clin- 
ton—General Lincoln's  reply — Articles 
of  capitulation,  with  subsequent  letters 
on  the  occasion— Alterations,  &c.  36—92 

General  Lincoln's  proposed  alterations  of 


436 

the  articles  of  capitulation — Inadmissible  PAGE 
on  the  part  of  the  British  commanders — 
Conduct  of  the  people  of  Charlestown  on 
this  occasion — The  place  capitulates — 
General  Lincoln's  motives  for  that  step 
—Articles  of  capitulation  as  finally 
agreed  to,  between  General  Clinton, 
Admiral  Arbuthnot  and  General  Lincoln 
— Return  of  the  military  stores  taken  in 
Charlestown — The  Americans  pile  their 
arms — Treacherous  conduct  of  several 
Americans  during  the  siege — A  British 
guard  blown  up  by  an  accidental  explo- 
sion— General  Moultrie  remonstrates  to 
the  British  on  the  neglect  and  ill  usage 
of  American  prisoners — British  returns 
of  prisoners — An  interview  between  Ge- 
neral Moultrie  and  General  Patterson — 
The  American  officers  sent  to  Haddrell's- 
point — A  return  of  all  ranks  of  the  pri- 
soners— General  Lincoln  sails  for  Phila- 
delphia— Situation  and  treatment  of  the 
American  officers  at  Haddrell's-point — 
Their  disorderly  conduct — Interview  be- 
tween General  Moultrie  and  Lord  Corn- 
wallis — General  Moultrie's  letter  to  Con- 
gress on  Mr.  Pendleton's  parole — Um- 
brage taken  by  the  British  officers  on  the 


437  , 

American  prisoners  at  Haddrell's-point,       PAGE 
celebrating  the  fourth  of  July—General 
Moultrie  justifies  their  conduct,  92—132 

British  restrictions  on  the  American  prison- 
ers— Commandant's  orders  to  enforce  the 
restrictions — General  Moultrie's  requi- 
sition of  certain  American  officers  sent 
on  board  the  prison-ships — The  com- 
mandant's refusal  to  reply— General 
Moultrie's  letter  to  Colonel  Balfour  on 
the  same  subject— An  abrupt  verbal  an- 
swer— Mortality  among  the  American 
prisoners  at  and  near  Charlestown— Ge- 
neral Moultrie  remonstrates  to  Colonel 
Balfour  on  the  occasion— The  Colonel's 
answer— List  of  general  officers  of  the 
American  army— Breach  of  the  general 
articles  of  capitulation  on  the  part  of  the 
British — General  Greene  requests  a  re- 
turn of  the  prisoners  from  General  Moul- 
trie— His  answer— Colonel  Balfour 's  pro- 
posals to  a  son  of  General  Moultrie— 
Holds  forth  inducements  to  their  re- 
linquishing the  American  cause— ^At- 
tempts of  the  enemy  to  inlist  prisoners 
in  the  hospital — General  Moultrie  trans- 
mits a  return  of  prisoners  at  Haddrell's- 
point  to  General  Greene— Physical  aid 

VOL.  II.  3  K 


438 

refused  the  hospital  prisoners — Balfour's  PAG* 
apology — A  partial  exchange  of  prison- 
ers—Situation of  the  remainder — Letter 
from  Lord  Charles  Montague  to  Gene- 
ral Moultrie,  in  which  he  endeavors  to 
detach  General  Moultrie  from  the  Ame- 
rican service — Offers  to  resign  the  com- 
mand of  his  regiment  in  Jamaica  in  his 
favor — General  Moultrie's  noble  and 
spirited  reply — Colonel  Balfour  threatens 
to  send  the  American  prisoners  to  the 
West  Indies,  in  case  of  an  exchange  not 
being  speedily  agreed  to,  132 — 172 

Colonel  Grimkie  and  Major  Habersham 
committed  to  prison  for  a  supposed 
breach  of  parole,  in  corresponding  by 
letter — Proceedings  of  a  court  of  inquiry 
on  that  affair — Copy  of  the  letters  of  cor- 
respondence— The  correspondents  found 
guilty — Colonel  Grimkie's  letter  of  ex- 
planation to  General  Moultrie — Joins 
General  Greene's  army — General  Moul- 
trie remonstrates  with  Colonel  Balfour 
on  the  impressment  of  American  sol- 
diers from  the  prison -ships— -Receives 
no  answer — General  articles  for  an  ex- 
change of  prisoners — General  Moultrie 
sails  for  Philadelphia  in  a  cartel— Ad- 


439 

miral  Tornay's  fleet  arrives  off  Carolina  PASK 
after  the  surrender  of  Charlestown-— 
Their  intentions  thereby  frustrated — 
Transactions  in  the  interior  country  of 
Cornwallis  and  Tarleton — The  battle  at 
Waxsaws,  with  a  return  of  the  killed 
and  wounded— Historical  instances  of 
the  supei'iority  of  cavalry  over  infantry — 
Colonel  Tarleton  in  high  reputation  for 
his  success — The  British  endeavor  to  se- 
cure the  submission  of  the  country — Sir 
Henry  Clinton  returns  to  New-York 
with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  but 
previously  offers  a  pardon  to  all  who 
would  join  the  British  arms — Many  ac- 
cept the  offer — British  perfidy — Baron 
De  Kalb  ordered  to  the  southward  by 
Congress  with  fourteen  hundred  troops 
— Distresses  on  his  march,  172—212 

The  state  of  North  Carolina  detach  bodies  of 
militia  to  the  southward — Check  the  Bri- 
tish in  South  Carolina— Colonel  Tarle- 
ton compelled  to  retreat — The  war  car- 
ried into  the  upper  parts  of  South  Ca- 
rolina by  the  British — The  Americans 
retreat  to  North  Carolina — Colonel 
Sumpter  takes  the  command  of  them—- 
Returns to  the  southward  and  opposes 


440 

the  enemy — His  success — Astonishment  PAGE 
of  the  British  at  this  event— Lord  Raw- 
don's  severe  orders  with  regard  to  de- 
serters from  the  militia— Confines  in  jail 
all  Americans  in  his  power  refusing  to 
join  the  British  arms— Dispersion  of  the 
Tory  insurgents  from  North  Carolina- 
Animosity  between  the  Whigs  and  To- 
ries— Cruel  excesses  on  both  sides — Ge- 
neral Sumpter  with  600  men  attacks  a 
British  post  at  Rockey-mount,  but  fails 
of  success— Soon  after  defeats  a  British 
regiment  and  Tories  at  Hanging-rock 
—Intelligence  arrives  of  an  army  being 
on  its  march  from  the  northward  for  the 
relief  of  the  southern  states — Small  par. 
ties  embody  in  the  Carolinas  and  check 
the  British  and  Tories — Colonel  Wil- 
liams' success  at  Enoree-river,  212—220 
Congress  resolve  to  support  the  liberty 
and  independence  of  the  thirteen  statef 
—General  Gates  takes  command  of  the 
continental  troops  in  North  Carolina,  and 
issues  his  proclamation— General  Ma- 
rion/ with  a  small  force  mores  from  South 
Carolina  to  join  General  Gates — Annoys 
the  British  on  several  occasions — His 
great  exertions  in  the  American  cause — 


441 

His  excellent  character  as  a  partizan  of-  PAGE 
ficer — He  routs  a  party  of  the  enemy 
and  their  adherents  near  Georgetown—- 
In junction  with  Colonel  Lee's  legion  he 
surprises  Georgetown — Their  retreat- 
General  Gates  joined  by  the  North  Ca- 
rolina militia — Moves  towards  Canaden 
—Lord  Cornwallis  arrives  at  Camden — 
Takes  command  of  the  royal  army— 
The  two  armies  mutually  advance  and 
charge — Retreat — Order  and  disposition 
of  the  American  army  on  the  16th  of 
August — They  engage  the  British — Pa- 
nic and  retreat  of  the  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina  militia — Slaughter  of  the  Ame- 
ricans— And  disastrous  event  of  the  bat- 
tle— General  Sumpter  defeated— Rejoic- 
ings of  the  British  at  Charlestown,  in 
consequence  of  this  affair — Deplorable 
situation  of  the  southern  states,  220—236 

Outrages  and  cruelties  exercised  by  Lord 
Cornwallis  through  the  country — Letter 
from  Governor  Rutledge  to  Congress  on 
this  subject— Lord  Cornwallis'  orders  in 
respect  to  the  inhabitants  who  had  taken 
oaths  of  allegiance — Condemnation  and 
execution  of  Colonel  Isaac  Hayne  under 
those  orders— Particulars  relative  to  Colo- 


442 

nel  Hayne — Devastations  in  Ninety-six 
district— -Colonel  Ferguson  marches  to- 
wards the  western  parts  of  South  Caro- 
lina—The back  country  inhabitants  arm 
to  oppose  him — Battle  at  King's-moun- 
tain — Ferguson  mortally  wounded,  and 
his  troops  surrender — Account  of  the 
enemy's  loss,  and  cause  of  their  disaster 
— Observations  on  militia-men  in  general, 
and  what  only  should  be  expected  from 
them— Maxim  of  the  old  king  of  Prussia 
— Influence  and  effect  of  this  defeat  on 
the  plans  of  Cornwallis — The  American* 
roused  by  this  fortunate  event — Corn- 
wallis retreats  to  Winnsborough— Colo- 
nel Washington  takes  a  fort  near  Cam- 
den  and  one  hundred  and  twelve  prison- 
ers— General  Sumpter's  activity  with 
militia  companies  through  South  Caro- 
lina—His lenient  conduct  to  Major 
Weyms — His  advantage  over  Colonel 
Tarleton — Wounded — General  Greene 
appointed  to  command  in  the  southern 
department — Character  of  this  officer- 
He  arrives  at  Charlotte — Takes  com- 
mand of  an  ill  provided  and  dispirited 
army — Divides  it,  and  intrusts  one  half 
to  General  Morgan— Which  are  detach- 


443 

. 

ed  to  the  western  parts  of  Carolina —  PAGE 
The  British  establish  a  post  at  Ninety- 
six — Despicable  behavior  of  part  of  the 
inhabitants  to  their  countrymen — Lord 
Balfour's  insolence  and  tyranny — Gene- 
ral Morgan  reaches  the  western  parts  of 
the  state,  and  disperses  a  body  of  To- 
ries, 236 — 252 
Cornwallis  detaches  Tarleton  with  one 
thousand  infantry  against  General  Mor- 
gan— Morgan  determines  to  fight  them. 
—Tarleton 's  troops  defeated  and  five 
hundred  lay  down  their  arms — The  vic- 
tory completed  with  a  trivial  loss  to  the 
Americans — The  British  in  Charlestown 
much  disconcerted  at  this  news — Corn- 
wallis stigmatizes  the  conduct  of  Tarle- 
ton's  troops — Cornwallis  sets  out  in  pur- 
suit of  General  Morgan — Menaces  North 
Carolina — General  Greene  joins  Morgan 
and  forms  a  junction  of  their  troops  at 
Guilford  Court-house — The  British  cross 
Catawba-river— Their  plans  of  attack  on 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia — Detach- 
ments of  British  sent  from  New- York  to 
the  southward — Military  manoeuvres  of 
both  armies — General  Greene  passes  the 
Yadkin— General  Marion's  activity  to 


444 

the    southward — General    Greene    re-        PAGE 
treats  his  army  from  Guilford  Court- 
house in  two  divisions — Re-crosses  the 
Dan,  and  defeats  several  bodies  of  Tory 

insurgents — The  Virginians  send  troops 
into  North  Carolina — Battle  of  Guilford 
Court-house,  252— 26f 

Lord  Cornwallis  marches  towards  the  sea- 
coast,  and  reaches  his  shipping  at  Wil- 
mington— Proceeds  to  Halifax,  (N.C.) — 
To  Petersburgh — General  Greene,  re- 
commences hostilities  in  South  Carolina 
—Lord  Rawdon  marches  to  oppose  him 
— Engagement  at  Hobkirk's  hill — Lord 
Rawdon  retires  from  Camden— Orange- 
burgh  surrenders  to  General  Sumpter— 
Surrender  of  Fort  Motte — Of  Fort 
Granby — The  British  leave  Georgetown 
—Augusta  capitulates— General  Greene 
marches  to  Ninety-six— A  fleet  arrives 
at  Charlestown  from  Ireland,  with  troops 
—Lord  Rawdon  marches  to  relieve 
Ninety-six— The  siege  raised — General 
Greene's  retreat — Ninety-six  evacuated 
by  the  British — Various  parti zan  ex- 
ploits— Battle  of  Eutaw — Congress  pre- 
sent General  Greene  with  a  British 
1  standard  and  gold  medal— The  British 


445 

abandon  Dorchester— General  Greene  PAGE 
encamped  at  Ashley-river — Tyranny  of 
Nesbit  Balfour— -Treachery  of  the  tory 
Cunningham — The  Whigs  retaliate— 
Governor  Rutledgc  returns  to  South  Ca- 
rolina and  re-establishes  r.ivil  govern- 
ment— Ilia  proclamation  and  speech—- 
Answer of  the  two  branches,  268— .316 
The  military  officers  petition  General 
Greene  to  retaliate  for  Colonel  Haync — 
General  Pickens  marches  to  the  Chero- 
kee country,  and  burns  thirteen  to\rns — 
General  Gadsdcn  chosen  governor  of 
South  Carolina — Session  and  proceed- 
ings of  the  legislature — General  Greene 
changes  his  position- — General  Leslie's 
letter  to  him — Reply— Leslie's  letter  to 
Governor  Mathews — The  Pennsylvania 
line  join  General  Greene — General 
Wayne  detached  to  Georgia— ^American 
government  re-established  in  Georgia — 
General  Wayne  defeats  Colonel  Brovm 
— Conflict  with  a  party  of  Creek  Indians 
— The  British  abandon  offensive  opera- 
tions—Evacuation of  Savannah— The 
Americans  in  possession  of  all  South  Ca- 
rolina except  Charlestown  and  its  vi- 
cinity— Preliminary  steps  for  evacuat- 

VOL.  II.  3  L 


446 

ing  Charlestown—  Articles— -Correspon-       PACK 
dence  between  the  governor  and  Gene- 
ral Leslie— Evacuation  of  Charlestown 
announced— Takes  place  on   the    14th 
December,  1782— General  Moultric  re- 
ceives his  certificate  of  exchange  at  Phi- 
ladelphia—Sets out  for  South  Carolina — 
Arrives  at  Winyaw,  and  visits  General 
Greene— Desolate  state  of  the  country — 
Pays  a  visit  to  his  plantation  and  slaves 
—Their  fidelity — Their  joy  to  see  him, 
—The  devastations  made  of  his  proper- 
ty— The  General's  tribute  of  respect  to 
the  patriotic  fair  of  South  Carolina — Ce- 
remonial of  proceedings  on  the  Ameri- 
cans taking  possesoion  of  CUarlestown— • 
Resolutions  of  Congress  and  orders  from 
General  Washington,  316 — 362 

APPENDIX, 

Containing  letters  and  public  papers,  referred  to  in 
the  course  of  the  Memoirs. 


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